Q&A: I Worked Overtime This Year — My W-2 Pay Doesn’t Show it. A Tax Expert Explains

Key takeaways 

• Overtime pay is included in your total wages. 
• Your W-2 may not list overtime on its own for the 2025 tax year. That’s normal, even if your pay stubs break it out.
• If your W-2 doesn’t break out overtime, you must use your pay stubs (or a statement or letter from your employer)  to determine your overtime deduction for the 2025 tax year. 

If you worked overtime this year and expected it to show up clearly at tax time, it can be jarring to see it isn’t listed separately on your W-2. 

Don’t stress — this is normal for the 2025 tax year. Overtime pay isn’t listed the way most people expect, which can cause confusion (and unnecessary worry). Once you know how it’s reported, you can enter it correctly and move on.

Here’s how to handle the most common overtime questions we see.

Find out more:  See How Tax Changes Impact You with the Tax Reform Calculator. 

Should I enter my total overtime pay, or just the premium portion?

Enter your total wages, exactly as they appear on your W-2. 

If your overtime is listed in Box 14 of your 2025 W-2, then TurboTax will ask you questions about your overtime and automatically determine your deduction based on your answers.

If your overtime is not listed on your W-2, you may have to get your overtime amount  from your last paystub of the year or from a statement provided by your employer. You can then use TurboTax to help calculate your eligible overtime. For full step-by-step instructions, see this help article. 

Find out more: How to enter a W-2 in TurboTax.

Where do I find overtime information on my W-2 or pay stub?

On your W-2, overtime may not be listed separately for tax year 2025. It’s included in Box 1 with your regular wages.

On your pay stubs, overtime hours or rates may be broken out. You also may have received a letter or statement from your employer with your overtime premium.   

Find out more: Understanding your W-2 form

Why doesn’t my W-2 show overtime separately?

Because employers aren’t required to report overtime as a separate line for tax year 2025. For tax year 2026, it will appear separately on the W-2, most likely in Box 12 with the code TT. 

How do I calculate the deductible portion of overtime pay?

For tax year 2025, you may have to get this information if your W-2 doesn’t list your overtime premium. If you worked overtime, it will be listed on your last pay stub or in a letter from your employer. You can then use TurboTax to help you calculate your deduction amount from your total overtime pay.

Find out more: Tax Deductions: What Are They, Different Types, and More

Find out more: Talk to a TurboTax Live Tax Expert