To Spell or Not to Spell Correctly?That is the Question! But What is the Document?

As the end of the year approaches, my annual ritual of verifying names and addresses for W-2 and 1099 forms kicks into high gear. Every year, without fail, there’s someone who disputes the spelling of their own name—even though they may have entered it themselves in the HR system. 🤭 And then, there are the folks who “forget” to update their addresses, leaving me chasing down corrections. What should be a quick task always stretches into a marathon of updates, phone calls, and emails.

Today, to get me started, I stopped by my favorite fast-food spot for breakfast. Predictably, when they asked for my name, my simple “Veronica” usually somehow morphs into “Victoria,” “Vanessa,” or “Valerie.” Occasionally, they get it right, but then the spelling goes astray. Thankfully, these minor slip-ups don’t end up on critical documents like the W-2s I’m preparing.

So, as we dive into W-2 and 1099 season, here’s a small request: give us grace for the occasional spelling mishap, we’ve done our due diligence. And if you’re one of those folks with an email address like “MoneyMaker2020” or “Cowgirl1996”—clearly a Cowboys fan who wants to reminds us of their last Super Bowl win. Or maybe you have since moved on to a more professional address, please, help us out by adding your real name in the signature! It’s the little things that make a big difference, especially when it’s for something as official as tax documents.

I may be particularly sensitive to this topic because, after all, I gave my son a name that’s only four letters long: Evan. I figured fewer letters would mean fewer ways for people to get it wrong… although, somehow, it still translates to Ethan every time. So I tried, right? I may have been a little luckier with his first name, but the last name—now that was out of my control. One out of two isn’t so bad, right?