In the United States, sign in to your my Social Security account and review your earnings record to see whether your wages have been credited to your Social Security history. Compare each year with your W-2s and other wage records. The record confirms earnings credited to you; it is not a receipt showing whether an employer remitted your individual payroll taxes to the IRS.
What your Social Security record can—and cannot—show
Employers report employee earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA). They withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes, send those taxes to the IRS, and pay an employer matching amount. Your SSA earnings history is the practical place to check whether reported wages appear on your Social Security record. It does not show an employee-specific tax payment receipt or let you audit an employer’s IRS remittances. SSA explains the reporting and tax process here.
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How to check your earnings record
- Sign in to my Social Security. Open your personal account and review your complete earnings history. SSA says you can also request a mailed Social Security Statement or call 1-800-772-1213; TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. Phone service is available in most U.S. time zones Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. SSA’s earnings-review page has the access options.
- Check the prior year in August. Current-year and previous-year earnings may not have been recorded yet. SSA recommends checking the prior year’s amount in August. If a recent year is missing, keep your wage documents and check again after time for processing rather than assuming the employer failed to pay taxes. SSA’s correction publication discusses reporting delays.
- Compare the record year by year. Use your W-2s, tax returns, pay stubs or pay slips, and other documents showing wages. Check that the name and Social Security number on payroll documents match the information SSA has for you; a mismatch can prevent wages from being credited. SSA’s employer guidance on name and SSN mismatches explains this issue.
What to do if wages are missing or incorrect
If the wages are recent
Because current-year and prior-year earnings can still be processing, preserve your records and check again after processing time. If the discrepancy remains, contact SSA. Do not treat a recent gap by itself as proof of nonpayment or misconduct.
If the employer reported wages incorrectly
Ask the employer to correct its wage report with Form W-2c. SSA says employees do not need to make the correction themselves once the employer has submitted the W-2c. SSA’s employer FAQ describes the employer’s role.
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If the record is still wrong or wages are absent
You may be able to request an earnings correction online through my Social Security. If that option is not available, contact SSA by phone or arrange office assistance. SSA may ask you to complete Form SSA-7008, Request for Correction of Earnings Record, and provide supporting documents such as a W-2, tax return, wage stub, pay slip, or other wage records. Follow SSA’s instructions for the evidence it needs.
Do not delay a correction for an older year
SSA ordinarily cannot correct earnings after 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days from the end of the taxable year in which the wages were paid. SSA lists exceptions, including certain omitted employer reports and wages an employer reported as paid to you that do not appear on your SSA record. Contact SSA promptly about an older discrepancy; the general deadline does not mean every late correction is barred. SSA’s time-limit FAQ explains the ordinary rule and exceptions.
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When a detailed earnings statement is needed
For a routine check, the yearly totals in your Social Security Statement are generally the relevant information. SSA says yearly totals are free. A detailed or certified earnings statement may require Form SSA-7050 and a fee; that option is usually unnecessary for checking whether your wages are reflected. SSA’s earnings-information page explains how to request detailed records.
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Why reviewing the record matters
Your earnings history is used in calculating Social Security benefits, so an error can affect the amount you may receive. Review it periodically and retain documents that can substantiate wages, particularly when a year is missing or an employer’s report appears incorrect. For suspected unpaid wages or payroll-tax misconduct, checking the SSA earnings record alone does not resolve that separate issue.
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