Where do I send Form W-3?

To the Social Security Administration, together with Copy A of your Forms W-2. It is not sent to the IRS, and no payment is sent with it.

Do I need Form W-3 if I e-file my Forms W-2?

No. If you filed electronically with the SSA, do not send a Form W-3.

When is the 2026 Form W-3 due?

By February 1, 2027, whether you file on paper or electronically.

Can I print this Form W-3 and mail it to the SSA?

No. The IRS.gov informational W-3 PDF is not an approved paper filing substitute. Do not print and file that copy with the SSA; a penalty may apply. E-file with the SSA or use the official red-ink form or an approved substitute. Use the fillable form for your calculations and records.

Do I need Form W-3 for a single Form W-2?

Yes, if you file that Form W-2 on paper. Form W-3 is used even if only one paper Form W-2 is being filed.

Form W-3 (2026): Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements

Tax Forms Information returnsFillable Form W-3 (2026)

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What is Form W-3?

Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, is the cover sheet an employer sends with paper Copy A of its Forms W-2. It goes to the Social Security Administration (SSA), not to the IRS. Box c shows how many Forms W-2 are sent with it, and boxes 1 through 8 are the totals of boxes 1 through 8 of those Forms W-2.

The current form is the 2026 Form W-3, which transmits 2026 Forms W-2. Form W-3 is completed only when paper Forms W-2 are filed. It is never filed alone, and it is required even if only one paper Form W-2 is filed. No payment is sent with Forms W-2 and W-3.

Before you print: what the SSA accepts

The informational Form W-3 and Copy A of Form W-2 downloaded from IRS.gov must not be printed and filed with the SSA. Use e-filing, official red-ink forms or approved substitute versions for filing. A penalty may be imposed for filing forms that cannot be scanned. The fillable form on this page is a copy of that informational IRS.gov form.

Use this fillable Form W-3 to work out and check your totals and to keep a copy for your records. To file, either e-file with the SSA or order the official scannable forms from the IRS.

How and when to file

E-filing. If you e-file your Forms W-2 with the SSA, do not send a Form W-3. The SSA offers two free options on its Business Services Online (BSO) website: W-2 Online, with fill-in forms for up to 50 Forms W-2 at a time, and File Upload for wage files created by payroll or tax software.

When e-filing is required. Add together the Forms W-2 and the other information returns you must file in the calendar year. If the total is at least 10, you must e-file all of your Forms W-2. A waiver is requested on Form 8508.

Paper filing. For regular mail, send the entire Form W-3 page with the entire Copy A page of your Forms W-2 to the Social Security Administration, Direct Operations Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001. For certified mail or an approved private delivery service, use the delivery-specific instructions on the current Form W-3.

Deadline for the 2026 forms. File Form W-3 with Copy A of Forms W-2 by February 1, 2027, on paper or electronically.

Check before you send

The Form W-3 and every Form W-2 show the same, correct tax year and employer identification number (EIN).
Box c matches the number of Forms W-2 you are sending, not counting voided forms.
Boxes 1 through 8 equal the totals of the same boxes on your Forms W-2.
Keep a copy of Form W-3 with Copy D of your Forms W-2. The IRS recommends keeping them for at least 4 years.

Form Versions

2024 Fillable W-3 for 2024 tax year Fill Out Form

Form W-3: Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I send Form W-3?

To the Social Security Administration, together with Copy A of your Forms W-2. It is not sent to the IRS, and no payment is sent with it.
Do I need Form W-3 if I e-file my Forms W-2?

No. If you filed electronically with the SSA, do not send a Form W-3.
When is the 2026 Form W-3 due?

By February 1, 2027, whether you file on paper or electronically.
Can I print this Form W-3 and mail it to the SSA?

No. The IRS.gov informational W-3 PDF is not an approved paper filing substitute. Do not print and file that copy with the SSA; a penalty may apply. E-file with the SSA or use the official red-ink form or an approved substitute. Use the fillable form for your calculations and records.
Do I need Form W-3 for a single Form W-2?

Yes, if you file that Form W-2 on paper. Form W-3 is used even if only one paper Form W-2 is being filed.

Form W-3 (2026), Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements