Microsoft Dynamics GP Year-End 2024: Payroll W-2 and W-3 information

Guess what time it is? Yep, it’s that magical time of the year again – the end of 2024! Time to get those employee Form W2 and employer Form W3 ready to roll. But don’t worry, Microsoft has got your back! This blog is your ultimate guide to creating those forms, and if you have any questions, they’ve probably already answered them here.

And here’s the best part: for 2024, there are no changes to the W2, W3 forms or electronic filing. That’s right, no new hoops to jump through! So, let’s get this done and then kick back and enjoy a well-deserved vacation!

Why is this important? Because getting these forms right means smooth sailing for everyone – no tax headaches, no stress, just pure end-of-year bliss.

RECOMMENDATION: Create the Year-End Closing and Year-End Wage file a couple of times in the current year (2024): This can be done in a test company refreshed with live company data Set up a test company in Microsoft Dynamics GP. If you do this in the live company, be sure to always make current restorable backups.

1. Prior to running the last payroll of the year. This allows you to validate and correct records if needed with the 2024 tax tables still installed.
2. After processing the last payroll of the year and before installing the next year’s tax tables (2025). This allows you to validate and correct records with the current year’s tax tables still in place.

Here is why: If you validate the current year’s employee’s W2 and know they are accurate BEFORE next year tax tables are installed and the first payroll of the next year is run, this will save you from doing a lot of unwanted steps.

If you must correct W2 data after installing the new year’s tax tables 2025, you will need to re-install the 2024 tax tables, make corrections, print the W2, then re-install the 2025 tax tables again. A lot of steps can be avoided if you are able to validate the 2024 W2 data prior to installing the 2025 tax tables or wait to install the 2025 tax tables till you are done with W2 processing.

Where does the information in the W-2’s come from? 

Year-End Closing: HR & Payroll >> Routines >> Payroll >> Year-End Closing

When a year is closed in the payroll module, Microsoft Dynamics GP populates the Payroll Year End Wage tables, which are used to generate the Year-End Wage file to generate your W-2’s and W-3.

Year End Wage Report: HR & Payroll >> Routines >> Payroll >> Year-End Wage Report.

Use the Year-End Wage Report to verify W-2 amounts before printing W-2 statements. This report can be created as many times as you wish.

If an employee’s record needs corrections/changes/edits to ensure their W-2 is accurate after the Year-End Wage File has been created there are 2 options for you to use.

NOTE: Always make a backup of the databases prior to making any changes.

Option 1 – Manually Edit W-2’s (most common):

Manually edit the W-2 via the Edit W-2 Information window (Microsoft Dynamics GP >> Tools >> Routines >> Payroll >> Edit W-2).

Note: Changes made here will update the Payroll Year End Wage tables only. These changes are not reflected in any other tables in the payroll module.

If you remove the Year End Wage File for any year, ALL edits made manually via the Edit W-2 Information window are lost. This is because removing the year-end wage file removes data from all the Payroll Year End Wage tables for the year in question.

Option 2 – Remove Year-End Wage File, make changes, and recreate Year-End Wage File: NOTE: This can be done as many times as you want, just remember, if you choose this option for any manual edits, you’ve already in the Edit W2 Information window W-2’s will be lost.

1. Ensure no users are processing in Payroll system wide.
2. If needed re-install 2024 tax tables
3. Remove the Year-End Wage file for the appropriate year Microsoft Dynamics GP >> Tools >> Utilities >> Payroll >> Remove Year End Information >> select the year you want to remove.
4. Make needed changes in Payroll (whether that’s voiding checks, processing checks, fixing W-2 labels, processing manual checks, etc.)
5. Once you have verified all data is accurate, close the Payroll year again HR & Payroll >> Routines >> Payroll >> Year-End Closing
6. Verify changes updated the Year-End Wage file and W-2’s is as expected.
7. Make another backup.
8. If needed, re-install 2025 tax tables prior to any further processing in Payroll for the 2024 payroll year (Microsoft Dynamics GP >> Maintenance >> US Payroll Updates >> Check for Tax Updates).

Make sure to check out Microsoft’s Payroll W-2 and W-3 full FAQ’s

Be sure to refer to the 2024 Year-End Blog Schedule to review current and upcoming blog posts and other helpful resource links related to Year-End Closing for Dynamics GP.