If you are a W-2 employee, it's easy to assume your taxes should be simple. After all, your employer withholds taxes, sends you a W-2, and the process can seem mostly automatic. But from a CPA’s perspective, that is not always the full story. Many employees have more complicated situations than they realize, especially if they work remotely across state lines, earn a higher income, or find themselves surprised by either a large refund or a balance due each year.

The good news is that complexity does not have to mean confusion. A little planning can go a long way toward helping you avoid surprises and make better decisions during the year. Here are four areas we often encourage W-2 employees to pay closer attention to.