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BobKamman
Level 15
April 20, 2026
Question

"Golden Parachutes" Payment for Federal Employee ?

  • April 20, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 12 views

I have a client who worked for the Veterans Administration all year.  Their payroll is handled by Defense Finance & Accounting Service, in Cleveland.  The W-2 shows in Box 14, $522.42 for Code K.  I figured this was a misprint and they really meant Code C, group term life insurance.  But I left it on the W-2 worksheet.  So sure enough, the return prints out with $522 tax on Line 17K of Schedule 2.

Sneaky way to make up for the July tax cuts?  

After further review, Google tells me "On a DFAS W-2 form, Code K in Box 14 represents pre-tax dental and vision insurance deductions. This is an informational code, and because it is pre-tax, the amount has already been deducted from your taxable wages in Box 1. It is crucial to enter this in Box 14, not Box 12, of your tax software."

1 reply

Just-Lisa-Now-
Intuit Community Champion
April 21, 2026

Ive got 1 client with DFAS W2 and Codes K and V in Box 14, the K one doesnt default to any description.  Ive always just chosen Other (not classified)

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥Lisa♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
BobKamman
BobKammanAuthor
Level 15
April 21, 2026

@Just-Lisa-Now-  I should have said Box 12, not Box 14.  And the drop-down description for "K" there is golden parachutes. Are you using ProSeries also?  Isn't that what it shows for Box 12, Code K ? 

Just-Lisa-Now-
Intuit Community Champion
April 21, 2026

See I thought hers was a continuation of Box 12 at first too (since all the Box 12 spaces were full), but it wasnt, its a Box 14 entry. 

She had a Code V right below the K, and I thought it was really weird for a DFAS employee to have stock options, but they didn't belong with box 12, they're box 14.

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥Lisa♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪