Each time you start a new job, your employer will give you a Form W-4 to complete that determines the amount of Federal income tax that is withheld from each paycheck. While many people prefer to have more tax taken out so they can look forward to a refund in the spring, overpaying your taxes means you are allowing the IRS to hold onto your money.
Conversely, underpaying your taxes can result in a big tax bill in April, and possibly penalties from the IRS for underpayment. To avoid these problems, strive to match the amount withheld as closely as possible to your actual tax liability, adjusting your rates and allowances as your status changes.
Form W-4
Form W-4 asks you to specify whether you want your taxes withheld at the single or married rate, how many withholding allowances you wish to claim, and whether you want an additional amount withheld from each paycheck. Claiming more allowances lowers the amount of taxes withheld, while claiming fewer increases the amount taken at each pay period.
Using the worksheets that accompany Form W-4 or the withholding calculator on the IRS website https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator can help you determine how many allowances you are entitled to claim.
If you have income from two jobs, the IRS recommends that you complete only one set of Form W-4 worksheets or online calculations, and that you then split your allowances between the Forms W-4 for each job. It is important to claim the right amount of allowances to avoid several potential issues:
- Underpayment Risk: Claiming allowances at multiple jobs can reduce the amount being withheld which can potentially result in unpaid taxes and penalties.
- Tax Penalties: Overstating allowances may lead to insufficient tax payments, creating a liability at tax filing time.
- Smaller Refunds: Reduced withholding across jobs could mean a lower tax refund or even a tax bill.
If you are married filing jointly and both you and your spouse are employed, calculate your withholding allowances using your combined family income, adjustments, deductions, exemptions, and credits – again, using just one set of worksheets or one set of calculations. While you and your spouse can divide your total allowances at your discretion, your family cannot claim an allowance twice.
If, however, you and your spouse expect to file separate returns, you should each calculate your allowances using separate worksheets based on your individual income, adjustments, and deductions.
Adjusting Form W-4
When an event occurs in your life that affects your tax liability, adjust your Form W-4 to reflect the change. You can alter your withholding as frequently as you like by filling out a new form and submitting it to your employer.
Events that may require you to recalculate the withholding amount include getting married or divorced, having a baby, and buying a house. You may also consider adjusting your withholding if your spouse starts or stops working; if you or your spouse takes on a second job; or if you have new income from non-wage sources, such as an inheritance, unemployment compensation, retirement plan distributions, alimony, dividends, capital gains, interest, or gambling winnings.
Changing your withholding is particularly important if an event occurs that lowers the number of allowances you are entitled to claim, or if your income rises dramatically. While your withholding should increase relative to your income, it is best to review your Form W-4 to ensure that the correct amount of tax will be withheld. In addition to the situations mentioned above, there are a number of other, less obvious events that could lead to a decrease in the number of allowances claimed.
For example, if you have been claiming an allowance for a dependent who is a qualifying relative or child, but you no longer expect to provide more than half of the dependent’s support for the year, resubmit your W-4. Similarly, if you have been claiming allowances for your anticipated deductions, but you now find they will be lower than originally expected, a change in your withholding may be necessary.
Even if you do not realize until later in the year that you have been underpaying your taxes and may be liable for interest and penalties, it is not too late to adjust your W-4. Simply calculate the additional amount you expect to owe, and use the form to instruct your employer to withhold the extra amount over the remainder of your paychecks for the year. To correct any future discrepancies, file a new Form W-4 in January that accurately reflects your changed tax situation.
In addition, consider adjusting your withholding if you have received a large refund and anticipate no changes in your tax liability for the coming year. Rather than overpaying the IRS over the course of the year, you may want to consider depositing the money in an interest-earning account, use the additional income to pay off credit card debt, or increase your retirement plan contributions.
State Considerations
Keep in mind that some states require their own separate withholding forms to be completed. When filling these out, apply the same considerations as you would for the federal Form W-4 to ensure accurate withholding.
By carefully managing your Form W-4 and adjusting it as needed, you can ensure accurate withholding that aligns with your financial goals and prevents unnecessary surprises at tax time. Remember, staying proactive with both federal and state forms helps you maintain control over your tax obligations and your budget.