Not exactly. He was asked to join the board of a bank 18 years ago. At that time he bought stock as a non-employee, merely a member of the board. The bank was sold in late 2019 and they issued the stock options in January 2020. He was never an employee in the 18 years, just a member of the board. So why would they issue him a W2 where box 1 (wages) was the amount of tax profit and in box 2 (federal taxes withheld) they put the same amount? 

I've told him to go back to the bank and see if actual taxes were withheld (which I do not think they were.) I told him I thought everything should come on a 1099B, but it doesn't seem that is the case at this time.

AHHHHHHH!!!