BCPS blames ransomware cyberattack for W-2 form confusion
In Baltimore County, there is an issue with employee W-2 statements. It turns out the state of Pennsylvania actually appeared on the forms, which caused quite a bit of confusion.More than 18,000 school employees have been asking for answers as they should expect new W-2 forms online and in the mail.The issue turned up in February: First with a systemwide W-2 statement delay, and that was followed by concerns over why another state’s name was included on Maryland’s employees tax forms. It became a major concern for Baltimore County teachers who make up half of the district’s payroll.“Initially, we were getting the calls because there were wages in Maryland and Pennsylvania and people, of course, did not live in both states,” Teachers Association of Baltimore County President Cindy Sexton said.School officials blame the November 2020 ransomware cyberattack for the form foul up. The apparent breach all but crippled internal school operations, including payroll. So, what went out to employees raised a lot of concerns.“A number of our employees were simply not familiar with the look and feel and the information that was being presented on the new W-2 form,” Baltimore County Public Schools spokesman Charles Herndon said.And now new W-2 tax statements are being re-issued with corrections.“It shouldn’t be a problem with these new W-2 forms that we just released, as well as the current ones we are using as well,” Herndon said.“We’re glad that they are making them available for people. It would have been nice to have it sooner, it would have saved us all a lot of angst, but at least it is in the works now that they will be available,” Sexton said.The union says it’s gotten assurances from Maryland’s comptroller’s office that it’s working with Pennsylvania for employee extensions and the waiving of penalties and interest.Baltimore County said those new statements should be up online in the next day or so if not sooner.Due to the errors made on the W-2 forms, the state comptroller has agreed to extend the period of time for which BCPS employees may report and pay their income taxes to the state from April 15 to July 15. Read the full letter here.Meanwhile, for…
