guys, it's actually very much possible for a w-2 to reflect the numbers as they're being reported
there's nothing wrong with the numbers on the W-2, gonna half to trust me on that. After all, I do prepare W-2's for at least a dozen clients who don't use a payroll service and I must look at least 2,000 W-2's per year
But I did raise 2 points
1) in 2009 he was telling us he made 17k more than he made in 2013. plausible but unlikely, especially for a young man who would have just started around 2009 and still works for the same company.
2) the 2013 W-2 does not reflect participation in before tax benefit programs his 2009 check stub said he was participating in. Again, plausible but unlikely.
My best guess, the 2013 W-2 is more likely to be accurate than the 2009 check stub, which was complete poppycock IMHO.