Form W-4
Use Form W-4 to figure the right amount of federal income tax to have withheld from your paycheck. You may want to review your withholding every year, especially after finishing your tax return. You can have more, or less, income tax withheld from your paycheck. What's a Withholding Allowance? It represents your total tax deductions divided by the personal exemption rate. The withholding allowance is related to, but not the same as, the number of dependents you can claim on your tax return.
Here's How:
- Click here for Form W-4 . This form is in a PDF format, and you can type your information on your computer before printing and submitting it out.
- Provide your name, address, and Social Security Number.
- Check the box for married or single, depending on your marital status.
- Calculate how many withholding allowances to claim. For most people, this is the same as the number of personal exemptions they claim on their tax return (see Line 6d on your 1040A or 1040).
- If you have more than one job, if your spouse works, or if you itemize your deductions, use the worksheet on Form W-4 page 2. Use this worksheet to calculate the number of allowances to claim instead of relying on your personal exemptions.
- You can also contact your Tax Accountant and he or she will be able to assist you in determining the number of allowances.
- If you have more than one job, make sure you claim zero allowances at your second job. Claiming "exempt" is not the same as claiming zero. By claiming zero, the highest amount of tax will be withheld.
- If you claim more than 9 allowances, your employer may be required to send your W-4 to the IRS for review. Don't be alarmed. People with substantial itemized deductions may need to claim over nine allowances.
- You are exempt from income tax withholding only if your income for the year will be less than $800. If you are exempt, skip lines 5 and 6, and write "EXEMPT" on line 7.
- Print a copy for your employer and your file, and hit "Submit"
- Give the W-4 to your employer.