Tie-out tool / Box 12 codes, 2026
W-2 box 12 codes for 2026
The 2026 Form W-2 has 33 box 12 codes. Three are new: TA for employer Trump account contributions, TP for cash tips and TT for qualified overtime.
| Code | What it reports (IRS wording) | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Uncollected social security or RRTA tax on tips | |
| B | Uncollected Medicare tax on tips | |
| C | Taxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000 | |
| D | Elective deferrals under a section 401(k) cash or deferred arrangement (plan) | |
| E | Elective deferrals under a section 403(b) salary reduction agreement | |
| F | Elective deferrals under a section 408(k)(6) salary reduction SEP (this includes elective deferrals made to a Roth SEP IRA) | |
| G | Elective deferrals and employer contributions (including nonelective deferrals) to any governmental or nongovernmental section 457(b) deferred compensation plan | |
| H | Elective deferrals under section 501(c)(18)(D) tax-exempt organization plan | |
| J | Nontaxable sick pay | |
| K | 20% excise tax on excess golden parachute payments (not applicable to Forms W-2AS, W-2CM, W-2GU, or W-2VI) | |
| L | Substantiated employee business expense reimbursements | |
| M | Uncollected social security or RRTA tax on taxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000 (for former employees) | |
| N | Uncollected Medicare tax on taxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000 (for former employees) | |
| P | Excludable moving expense reimbursements paid directly to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or intelligence community | |
| Q | Nontaxable combat pay | |
| R | Employer contributions to an Archer MSA | |
| S | Employee salary reduction contributions under a section 408(p) SIMPLE plan (this includes salary reduction contributions made to a Roth SIMPLE IRA) | |
| T | Adoption benefits | |
| V | Income from the exercise of nonstatutory stock option(s) | |
| W | Employer contributions to a health savings account (HSA) | |
| Y | Deferrals under a section 409A nonqualified deferred compensation plan | |
| Z | Income under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that fails to satisfy section 409A | |
| AA | Designated Roth contributions under a section 401(k) plan | |
| BB | Designated Roth contributions under a section 403(b) plan | |
| DD | Cost of employer-sponsored health coverage | |
| EE | Designated Roth contributions under a governmental section 457(b) plan | |
| FF | Permitted benefits under a qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement | |
| GG | Income from qualified equity grants under section 83(i) | |
| HH | Aggregate deferrals under section 83(i) elections as of the close of the calendar year | |
| II | Medicaid waiver payments excluded from gross income under Notice 2014-7 | |
| TA | Employer contributions under a section 128 Trump account contribution program paid to a Trump account of an employee or a dependent of an employee | New for 2026 |
| TP | Total amount of cash tips reported to the employer | New for 2026 |
| TT | Total amount of qualified overtime compensation | New for 2026 |
Source: IRS General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 (2026), Box 12, Codes. For TA, TP and TT the instructions add that territory forms (W-2AS, W-2CM, W-2GU, W-2VI) should check with the territory.
How an entry is written
"Enter the code using a capital letter(s). Use decimal points but not dollar signs or commas." A qualified overtime amount of $1,250 is entered as TT 1250.00. The codes do not belong to a particular line: any code can go in box 12a, 12b, 12c or 12d.
Copy A holds at most four box 12 items. A fifth item goes on a second Form W-2. (W-2 instructions, Box 12)
The code that needs arithmetic
Most codes copy a figure the payroll system already holds. Code TT does not: it is the half-time premium on hours worked over 40 in each workweek, which no register total shows. See how to calculate Code TT and why it does not match the register.
Do the whole year from a file
Drop a timesheet CSV, paste the register overtime totals, and get a worksheet per employee with the reason for every difference.
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Questions
Which W-2 box 12 codes are new for 2026?
TA (employer contributions to a Trump account), TP (total cash tips reported to the employer) and TT (total qualified overtime compensation). The 2026 IRS instructions introduce all three.
Does box 12 code TT reduce box 1 wages?
No. Overtime stays in box 1 and stays subject to withholding, social security and Medicare tax. Code TT is an information amount the employee uses for the deduction.
Is there a code I, O, U or X?
No. The 2026 list runs A to H, J to N, P to T, V, W, Y, Z, then AA, BB, DD to II, and TA, TP, TT.
Sources
Fetched 2026-11-10. Regulation text was checked against the federal annual edition; links open the current online version.
Updated 2026-11-10. Tickfoot is an information tool, not tax, legal or professional advice.