Question

why social security wages may be different than the wages reported in box 1 of w-2

Answer 1

Social Security wages might not match the wages in Box 1 of your W-2 because some things, like money put into a 401(k) or spent on health insurance before taxes, are not counted in Social Security wages. This happens because only certain parts of your income are subject to Social Security taxes. Check your W-2 and understand your pay details to make sure your taxes are accurate