SS Inquiry regarding W2 from 1992

[Lee B]

I have a business client for whom I have done all of their Accounting, Payroll and Tax Work since the middle of 1993.

One of the owners just received a letter from the SSA wanting verification of his 1992 W 2 information.

Are you kidding me? Very few people keep documents from 30 years ago.

I wonder if they will remove the 1992 earning from his 35 year earnings history?

[Gail in Virginia]

They certainly waited long enough to question this.  I hope you will keep us posted about any outcome from this, especially if they do adjust his earnings for 1992 (!).

[jklcpa]

On 7/8/2022 at 9:24 PM, cbslee said:

I have a business client for whom I have done all of their Accounting, Payroll and Tax Work since the middle of 1993.

One of the owners just received a letter from the SSA wanting verification of his 1992 W 2 information.

Are you kidding me? Very few people keep documents from 30 years ago.

I wonder if they will remove the 1992 earning from his 35 year earnings history?

Have you determined that this is a real inquiry?  Why would SSA wait 30 years to contact the person, and was there something extraordinary about that year's earnings compared to the others?  

[ILLMAS]

Our state revamp their computer system back in 2008 or 2009 and people were receiving tax bills from the 90’s.  They received so much backlash they had to waive penalties and interest.

[Abby Normal]

57 minutes ago, jklcpa said:

Why would SSA wait 30 years to contact the person

SSA contacted me about a possible duplicate W2 from the early 90s when I applied for SS. Unfortunately, I had shredded all my tax returns from 1972 forward and didn't consider scanning them before shredding because I had the last 20 years in PDF form.

I had switched jobs with the same company and it's quite possible they did give me two W2 forms for one year and the total income seemed about right as well, so they allowed the extra W2 to be part of my earnings record.

[Lee B]

2 hours ago, jklcpa said:

Have you determined that this is a real inquiry?  Why would SSA wait 30 years to contact the person, and was there something extraordinary about that year's earnings compared to the others?  

My client turns 70 next month, so at this moment I am assuming that it was triggered by his applying for SS, like what happened to Abby.

Still waiting for a copy of the letter.

[jklcpa]

Good thing I still have all my own tax returns ever filed and supporting documents going back to the '70s and and also for husband and I starting with '92.   

[BulldogTom]

8 minutes ago, jklcpa said:

Good thing I still have all my own tax returns ever filed and supporting documents going back to the '70s and and also for husband and I starting with '92.   

OK, that is just too ....  too.... something retentive.  

Tom
Longview, TX

[jklcpa]

Nah, not really intentional, just an old file cabinet that got moved around and never emptied out. 

I have an old desk with stuff from my youth too. I found a very funny short story that I wrote at about age 8 entitled "The Story of My Life" and also some things and writings from my father too.   Now those things are very precious and glad I still have them.

[Gail in Virginia]

Wow, Judy.  I am sure those old writings are precious now, but I can't imagine still having tax returns from the 70's.  I filed then, but they are long gone.  Kind of wish I had saved my very first return, though. 

[Pacun]

I think we should encourage our clients to register with the SSA and make sure they have the correct information for each year.  I check mine every year and it seems to be correct.

[Joel]

I still have my first tax return from 1955.

 

[Lee B]

Funny, my client finally went up in their attic and found the W 2 they needed

[schirallicpa]

I have all my tax returns from when I first got married.  I was always going to put the AGIs and tax liab on a spreadsheet -oops -the accounting nerd in me is showing.

[kathyc2]

22 hours ago, schirallicpa said:

I have all my tax returns from when I first got married.  I was always going to put the AGIs and tax liab on a spreadsheet -oops -the accounting nerd in me is showing.

Mine go back to my first return in high school.  Pertinent info from each year is entered on a s/s.  So, I guess I'm a super-nerd.

[jklcpa]

2 hours ago, kathyc2 said:

Mine go back to my first return in high school.  Pertinent info from each year is entered on a s/s.  So, I guess I'm a super-nerd.

Yep, my first ones were during high school too.  Not a big deal since it was only 2 sheets of paper per year for many of the early years - one for federal, one for state.

I can't claim super-nerd status as I don't have any spreadsheets. 

[TaxmannEA]

I've got my returns back to 1970. I also have my father's returns and record pages back into the 1940's. I must be one of the ______ retentive people.

[joanmcq]

I think I shredded my earlier ones when I moved. Before that I had them going back to 1983.