Verifying “Employer Submission” via SSA.gov: The Shortcut Most Taxpayers Miss

Most taxpayers believe they must wait for an IRS transcript update to know whether their refund is moving forward. That is no longer true.

In 2026, one of the fastest ways to gauge refund progress has nothing to do with the IRS website at all—it starts with SSA.gov.

Understanding verifying employer submission via SSA.gov explains how wage data flows from employers to the Social Security Administration, how that data bridges to the IRS, and how a simple check can predict whether your refund will be approved or delayed.

Why SSA.gov Matters to Your Tax Refund

Before the IRS can approve many refunds, it must confirm that:

• Your employer actually reported your wages
• Your withholding exists in a federal database
• The numbers on your return match third-party records

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the first stop in that data journey.

If the SSA does not have your wages, the IRS cannot verify them.

What the “Data Bridge” Really Is

The IRS does not receive W-2 data directly from employers in real time.

Instead:

1. Employers submit W-2 data to the SSA
2. The SSA validates and posts earnings
3. The IRS pulls that data for wage matching

This connection is often called the SSA–IRS data bridge.

If the bridge is active, refund processing accelerates.

How to Check Employer Submission Yourself

You can verify employer submission without waiting for IRS updates.

To do this:

• Log in to your My Social Security account at SSA.gov
• View your earnings record for tax year 2025
• Confirm that wages and employer information appear

This check takes minutes and provides powerful insight.

What It Means If Your 2025 Earnings Are Visible

If your 2025 earnings show up on SSA.gov:

• Your employer successfully submitted W-2 data
• The SSA validated the record
• The IRS can now match your wages

In most cases, this means your return is moving toward refund approval, even if WMR has not updated yet.

Why This Often Happens Before IRS Transcript Updates

SSA wage posting often occurs before:

• IRS transcript population
• WMR status changes
• Refund approval messages

That makes SSA.gov an early indicator of backend progress.

The Critical Warning: When SSA Shows $0

If your SSA earnings record shows $0 for 2025, but you have a W-2 in hand, that is a red flag.

It usually means:

• Your employer filed late
• Your employer submitted incorrect data
• A transmission error occurred

This mismatch almost always triggers an income verification review.

Why a Missing SSA Record Traps Refunds

When SSA data is missing:

• The IRS cannot confirm wages
• Automated processing stops
• The return enters a review queue

This commonly results in:

• TC 570 holds
• CP05 or CP05A letters
• A 60-day review period

The IRS is waiting on your employer—not you.

What You Should Do If SSA Shows $0

If you see $0 on SSA.gov:

• Contact your employer immediately
• Ask whether the W-2 was filed and accepted
• Request confirmation or correction

The faster the employer fixes the issue, the sooner the IRS review can resolve.

What Happens Next?

If SSA Data Is Present

• IRS wage matching completes
• Refund processing resumes
• Approval often follows shortly

If SSA Data Is Missing

• The IRS pauses processing
• Review timelines extend
• Refund release waits on employer correction

Knowing which situation you are in removes the guesswork.

What You Should and Should Not Do

You Should:

• Check SSA.gov if your refund is stalled
• Use SSA data as an early signal
• Act quickly if earnings are missing

You Should Not:

• Assume the IRS made an error
• Refile due to missing SSA data
• Ignore a $0 earnings record

This issue starts upstream.

Verifying employer submission via SSA.gov gives you visibility most taxpayers never use.

• If your wages appear, the IRS data bridge is active
• If they do not, your refund is likely headed for review
• This check can predict delays before the IRS ever notifies you

Sometimes, the fastest refund update is found outside the IRS system entirely.