Cassandra Lenfert, CPA, CFP®

Financial Advisor & Certified Public Accountant

Cassandra Lenfert is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in Colorado. She advises clients nationwide through her tax firm, Cassandra Lenfert, CPA, LLC. With over 15 years of tax, accounting, and personal finance experience, Cassandra specializes in working with individuals and small businesses on proactive tax planning to help them keep more money to reach their goals. She received her BA in Accounting from the University of Southern Indiana in 2006.

wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Q&A Comments (63)

Does the IRS require proof of death in order to issue an estate tax ID number?
You are not required to provide a copy of the decedent's death certificate when applying for an estate tax identification number. However, some states may require you to attach a copy of the death certificate when you file the decedent's final personal income tax return.
Why would my w2 forms have different wages earned numbers?
It depends on what boxes on the Form W-2 you are reviewing. Box 1 shows wages that are taxable for federal income tax purposes.; Box 3 shows wages that are taxable for Social Security tax purposes; and Box 5 shows wages that are taxable for Medicare tax purposes. There are several reasons why these amounts may be different. For example, if you had amounts withheld for a tax-deductible employer retirement plan, such as a 401(k), this amount would be subtracted from your Box 1 federal income taxable wages, but not from your Box 3 and 5 Social Security and Medicare taxable wages. There is also a cap on the amount of wages subject to Social Security tax; for 2018 the maximum amount of wages subject to Social Security tax was $128,400. The most you would see reported in box 3 would be $128,400 for 2018.
How do I get my w2 form from a job I had in one state, but I'm in another now?
If you have left a former job, you should contact your former employer and provide them with your current address so they can provide you with a copy of your W-2 for the year. If that state imposes an income tax, you may have a state income tax filing requirement. You would need to file in that state if you were a resident of the state at any point during the year and/or your total income from the state exceeds the amount required for filing taxes in the state. Even if you don't meet either of those requirements, you may still want to file a state income tax return in the state if your employer withheld state income tax, so you can request a refund of that state income tax.
See more comments

Co-authored Articles (16)

How to Find a Federal Tax ID / EIN Number

Learn how to lookup an unknown tax ID number, whether it’s your own or somebody else’s Every individual and business in the US has a unique tax ID number—this is how the IRS identifies each taxpayer. But what happe...

How to Fill Out a W-9 Tax Form

Learn how to correctly complete a business tax form A W-9 Form is a common IRS document. If you were hired by someone as an independent contractor or received certain types of income, you would have to fill out a W-9 For...

How to Speak to Someone at IRS & Get the Help You Need

Learn how to connect with someone at the IRS when you need tax help It's not always easy to do your taxes on your own and sometimes you run into a problem. You'd feel more confident if you could get an answer straight fr...

How to

Fill Out a W‐4

Most people receive W-4 forms from their employers when they begin working. Payroll departments use the information employees provide on their W-4 forms to determine how much money should be withheld from their paychecks...

How to Get Copies of Old W-2 Forms

Request your W-2 from past years through the IRS or a previous employerThere are several reasons why you might need to get copies of old W-2 forms. Maybe you need old W-2 copies because you are facing an audit or, more h...

How to

Write a Letter to the IRS

The IRS is one of the most feared government agencies. However, you have nothing to fear when you need to write them a letter. Format a business letter and remember to get to the point. People usually write the IRS to pr...

How to

Create a Budget Spreadsheet

A budget spreadsheet is used to help you control your expenses. You will be surprised at how easy it is to keep your finances in line with this tool. You can use this budget spreadsheet as a guide to pay off bills, save ...

How to

Obtain a Tax ID Number for an Estate

When a person passes away and the process of handling their estate begins, the first thing those responsible for the estate should do is determine if the estate needs a separate tax identification number for tax purposes...

How to

File a Complaint With the IRS

To file a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you must contact either the (also available by phone at (800) 366-4484) or the (also available by phone at (877) 777-4778). A complaint against someone worki...

How to

Get a Copy of Your W‐2 from the IRS

Employers must provide wage and tax statements, or W-2s, to their employees each year. This form isn't sent directly to the IRS, however. Employers first send the form to the Social Security Administration (SSA), which t...

How to

Get Tax Deductions on Goodwill Donations

Goodwill is a large non-profit organization in the United States and Canada with a mission of "enhancing the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families..." Goodwill thrift stores accept donations of clothes,...

How to

Request a Duplicate W‐2

The U.S. Wage and Tax Statement, commonly known as a W-2 form, is issued to employees before Jan. 31 showing the previous calendar year's wages and tax withholdings. Although a government form, employers complete the W-2...

How to

Calculate Federal Tax Withholding

Calculating federal tax withholding can be surprisingly frustrating — even though it's something the majority of people have to do regularly. Luckily, with the right guidance, this yearly ritual doesn't have to be ...

How to

Calculate Asset Market Value

An asset is anything a company owns that has a positive monetary value. Assets include things like cash, real estate, inventory, and equipment, but also include less tangible things, such as goodwill and reputation. Whil...

How to

Prepare a W‐2 for an Employee

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that employers file a W-2 for each of their employees. On this form, you report the wage or salary the employee was paid during the year. You also specify the amount of federal...

How to

File Taxes if You Worked in 2 Different States

Learn how to file resident and non-resident tax formsFiling taxes can be complicated, especially when you work in two different states. This circumstance can affect the way you file your taxes. While your federal tax ret...