A W-4 form is used by an employee to let their employer know how much tax to withhold from their paychecks, while a W-2 form is used by the employer to report how much an employee was paid and how much tax was withheld during the year. The main differences between the two forms are:

• Purpose: A W-4 lets the employer know how much tax to withhold from an employees paycheck, while a W-2 reports how much an employer paid an employee and how much tax was withheld during the year.

• Filled out by: An employee fills out a W-4 form upon hiring (and any time their withholding or filing status should change), while an employer fills out a W-2 form each tax year.

• Information provided: A W-4 provides information on how much tax to withhold from an employees paycheck, while a W-2 provides information on how much an employee was paid and how much tax was withheld during the year.

Both forms are required IRS tax forms and are part of the HR, accounting, and payroll processes in a business. It is important to fill out both forms correctly and consult a professional for guidance if any questions arise.