Casino issued me incorrect W2G - - now what to do?

[DougJ]

I won a VP jackpot of around $7000 on New Year's Day this year, around 12:15 in the morning.

When the slot tech and slot supervisor brought me the W2G paperwork to sign, I noted that the pay date box correctly stated 1-1-2014 as the date the jackpot was won.
However, since I knew most casinos' gaming day does not officially end until 3 or 4 a.m, I enquired at that time if the W2G was accurate as to date won. They assured me it was.

So, I decided to pick up my Win/Loss statement for 2014 (dated up to this week), just to confirm how I'm doing this year.
Expected to see my four hand pay jackpots listed.
NOPE. Just three, and the discrepancy in total amount won is exactly the $7000 jackpot.

I call the accounting department. Their explanation: they submitted to the IRS my January 1st jackpot as having been won on December 31, 2013. They said, well, that was still the gaming day for them when I won.

Umm, but my W2G clearly shows I won in 2014, not 2013.

I am not happy if I have to file an amended 2013 return because this casino intentionally put the wrong payout date on my W2G AND MOREOVER assured me it was recorded for 2014. And, of course, from my standpoint, what was recorded by them on the W2G they issued me DOES have the accurate date of 1-1-2014.

Seeking help on what should happen, as the casino finance office does NOT want to amend THEIR paperwork because "it is too much trouble for them."

[FloridaPhil]

If it was me, I would just add it to my 2014 earnings and let it be.  If you gamble a bunch and have a stack of W2Gs, the IRS will probably check you closer.  If so, see your accountant.

[DaBurglar]

Know any lawyers you could ask for some free advice?   if not, call a legal helpline and see what they might have to say/offer.......Beyond that, I agree with florida phil's post whereby he implies the IRS, in all likelihood, will not even notice or care so long as nothing else untoward or weird appears with you or your account.I'd definitely berate the Casino management, to the point where they get sick of you and perhaps offer you some nice consolation perks or comps just to shut you up....try it, it works! 

[BillyJoe]

Here is my take on this, based on my personal dealings with the IRS.

The IRS can give a rat's fanny about a casino's "gaming day" hours. You won a reported jackpot on a particular day in a particular US timezone. THAT is what they will use to evaluate your personal tax return.

The casino has the legal obligation to report to the IRS all taxable winnings. If they chose to use something other than the calendar and clock to do their reporting, that is THEIR issue to resolve with the IRS. If, as you say, your W2-G accurately reflects the 2014 date, that is what you are REQUIRED to use to calculate any taxable winnings for the year.

Well documented records of the ACTUAL time/date of your win will satisfy the IRS in the event of an audit. A casino Win/Loss statement is a good start, but in this case, be prepared to explain why you claimed a winning in a particular tax year, and why it was reflected differently in the casino's records.       

[spxChrome]

I am just surprised they had a 2014 forms at 12:15am. For about 2 months after 2013 ended they kept giving me 2013 forms just scratching out the year and writing in 2014 But to answer your question I would file it however the casino filed it.

[DougJ]

I was surprised to receive two phone calls from the Chief Finance Officer for this casino.
He stated that he is able to amend my 2013 and 2014 win/loss statements, moving my $7000 jackpot from Dec. 31, 2013 to my 2014 statement.
He also offered to give me a "corrected" W2G. HUH??
My current W2G for this jackpot, in my possession, IS correct in my opinion, since I won in 2014 (by calendar day), not 2013. So, strange, why would I want to do that? Seems it would give IRS reason to say I under reported income for 2013.

The CFO seemed a bit peeved that I had contacted his accounting department, and he stated that both the IRS and the Nevada Gaming Board approved their gaming day accounting practices.
HUH? Why does the IRS care about their artificial gaming day, as billyjoe stated?

[DougJ]

I am just surprised they had a 2014 forms at 12:15am. For about 2 months after 2013 ended they kept giving me 2013 forms just scratching out the year and writing in 2014 But to answer your question I would file it however the casino filed it.

UM, they did NOT have 2014 W2 forms. My jackpot is printed on the 2013 form, but the box that states the date paid is January 1, 2014. No casino employee scratched out the year at the top margin of the form.

How would I know when the casino filed it? I was told by the CFO that my jackpot was included in their 2013 earnings statement, but does that necessarily mean they submitted my W2G to the IRS for 2013?

[BillyJoe]

I was surprised to receive two phone calls from the Chief Finance Officer for this casino.
He stated that he is able to amend my 2013 and 2014 win/loss statements, moving my $7000 jackpot from Dec. 31, 2013 to my 2014 statement.
He also offered to give me a "corrected" W2G. HUH??
My current W2G for this jackpot, in my possession, IS correct in my opinion, since I won in 2014 (by calendar day), not 2013. So, strange, why would I want to do that? Seems it would give IRS reason to say I under reported income for 2013.

The CFO seemed a bit peeved that I had contacted his accounting department, and he stated that both the IRS and the Nevada Gaming Board approved their gaming day accounting practices.
HUH? Why does the IRS care about their artificial gaming day, as billyjoe stated?
IMO, Doug, you will be doing the right thing in reporting a Jan 1, 2014 win in your personal 2014 federal tax return. Let the IRS and NGC haggle with the casino CFO about how and when the casino reported your win.

Whatever your W2-G date/time says is what you should follow, regardless of what form it is written on.

[DougJ]

IMO, Doug, you will be doing the right thing in reporting a Jan 1, 2014 win in your personal 2014 federal tax return. Let the IRS and NGC haggle with the casino CFO about how and when the casino reported your win.

Whatever your W2-G date/time says is what you should follow, regardless of what form it is written on. [/QUOTE]

Thank you, billyjoe. I agree.
I'm not going to file an amended 2013 return, and will just put this win on my 2014 return, as I had planned to do up until the casino confused me with their win/loss statements.

[spxChrome]

Could be that their Win/Loss runs on a different clock (aka players card with the casinos headquarters) and their W2G runs local time. I think what is important is to file it with whatever year the casino filed it with. You can ask to get a print out of w2g from a certain year and see what year it was filed with?