Two months after work was completed I finally get a check from an Employer. I filled out W-2 paperwork and a timecard at the time the work was completed. Since then, he asked me twice to be paid by 1099 which I refused. I am counting on this quarter to make my unemployment quota. In a email, he tried to trick me into 're-submitting my invoice' (so he could pay me by 1099). I now have payment from them but it is just a check with no top part. So there is no breakdown of deductions, or my social security number, or gross and net amounts listed. The amount of the check is $1,659.86 from the $2100.00 due, so it appears that tax has been taken out, but it looks fishy to me. Perhaps the employer does not have the money to process the check properly right now? Is this legal? How can I check that taxes have been paid?

To www.paycheckcity.com and plug in the figures and see if the amounts withheld match up to a 2 week (whatever) paycheck.

You are correct, you can still be paid on a W-2 for as even a day's worth of pay.

You can't check if taxes are paid. You can file a complaint with the Department of Labor and with the Internal Revenue Service.