Tax question - Incorrect W2

[littletoobigformybritches]

Just wondering what to do with an incorrect w-2?

I estimated our taxes months ago and planned on owing about $1600. I saved the $1600 and set it aside in preparation for paying that amount. Well, I went online and did our taxes this past weekend and just filled in the boxes per each question on the HR block interview and ended up with a refund of, coincidentally, about $1600.

OK, so either I was wrong or they were wrong. Because I don't like being wrong, I went back through everything more carefully and realized that my husband's W2 listed $7,440 of tax-exempt combat pay. Problem is, um, he wasn't deployed in 2008 at all (he was in 2007, but I don't know why that would be reflected on the 2008 W2).

So what do you think? Just report it as listed on the W2 and accept the refund? Talk to the finance people on base, who are unlikely to change it at this point anyway? I'm torn, only because we don't steal, and I feel like we are in a stealing grey area here. Thoughts?

[MonkeyMama]

I would talk to the finance people on base. They have to change it if it is incorrect. Or they can tell you why they added it there. Are you sure he didn't receive any combat pay in 2008, that was from 2007?

[littletoobigformybritches]

I'm sure. 2007 checked out just fine. To the very best of my knowledge, this is their mistake. I also checked through all of his Leave and Earning statements for 2008 and he got regular pay and regular taxes taken out on every single one, so I would be shocked if this was legitimate.

[disneysteve]

If the W-2 is wrong, it needs to be corrected. Speak to whoever is responsible for doing that.