For Employers and Businesses Who Submit W-2 Forms
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Welcome to W-2 News, the electronic newsletter for employers who submit W-2s to Social Security.

Issue 2009-04
October 14, 2009

Temporary Outage of Business Services Online

Business Services Online (BSO) will not be available from Friday, October 30, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) until Monday, November 2, 2009, at 5:00 a.m. (EDT). You won't be able to report wages online or use the Social Security Number Verification Service during this time. This is due to a change in several online applications. Business Services Online applications will resume on Monday, November 2, 2009.

Reminder: Change Your Password

Your Business Services Online password should be changed every 90 days. For information on passwords and other items, go to User Reminders.

Free Software Helps Wage Reports Accuracy

AccuWage/AccuW2C is free software from Social Security. It allows you to check W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) and W-2c (W-2 correction) reports for correctness before you send them to Social Security. Using AccuWage and AccuW2C greatly reduces submission rejections. Download the latest version of the AccuWage software before you prepare your wage reports each year. For more information go to www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/software.htm.

Have Any Questions about Business Services Online or Wage Reporting?

We have a special website designed to answer your questions on wage reporting. Visit the Employer page (Employer W-2 Filing Instructions & Information) at www.socialsecurity.gov/employer. It has links to Learn How to E-File Using Business Services Online, Learn How to Use SSNVS to verify Social Security Numbers, and we have the Frequently Asked Questions page. There are also sections for In the News, Resources, Before You File, and the Employer Information Directory. Bookmark the Employer page for all of your W-2 Reporting needs.

Not yet registered for Business Services Online?

If you haven't yet registered for Business Services Online, then do it now and beat the end of year rush. You can register at www.ssa.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm. If you have questions view the Online Tutorial and Software Demo at http://www.ssa.gov/employer/fileBSO.htm.

Customer Service

Employer Reporting Assistance
For more information on reporting employee wages to Social Security visit our website www.socialsecurity.gov/employer

Employers may contact Social Security with wage reporting questions or problems.
Email: employerinfo@ssa.gov
Phone - 1-800-772-6270, Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time

BSO Technical Assistance
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time 1-888-772-2970
Email: bso.support@ssa.gov

General Information (Social Security Information)
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (all time zones)
1-800-772-1213
For TDD/TTY call 1-800-325-0778