- If your employer doesn't have a W-4 form from you, the IRS requires it to treat you as a single tax filer, which means withholding the highest possible amount from your paycheck for taxes. You can get back the amount you overpay, but only in the new year when you file your tax return.
- Enter this figure on line 4 of the Multiple Jobs Worksheet as well as line 4c of the Form W-4. Option C Check the box in option C if there are only two jobs total and do the same on the W-4 for.
- Most people receive W-4 forms from their employers when they begin working. Payroll departments use the information employees provide on their W-4 forms to determine how much money should be withheld from their paychecks for federal taxes. If you've just entered the workforce, filling out a W-4 form for the first time can be confusing.
If an employer does not receive a completed Form W-4 from an employee, they are authorized to withhold federal income tax at the Single – No Deductions rate. Filling a W-4 out incorrectly can mean employees have unexpected tax liabilities at the end of the year, so encourage them to take their time and follow the instructions carefully.
If you're filling out a Form W-4, you probably just started a new job. Or maybe you recently got married or had a baby. The W-4, also called the Employee's Withholding Certificate, tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your paycheck. The form was redesigned for 2020, which is why it looks different if you've filled one out before then. The biggest change is that it no longer talks about 'allowances,' which many people found confusing. Instead, if you want an additional amount withheld (perhaps your spouse earns considerably more than you), you simply state the amount per pay period. Here, we answer frequently asked questions about the W-4, including how to fill it out, what's changed and how the W-4 is different from the W-2.
Go beyond taxes to build a comprehensive financial plan. Find a local financial advisor today.
Why Do I Need to Fill Out Form W-4?
As just noted, the form tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your paycheck. You'll need to complete a new W-4 every time you start a new job. If your new company forgets to give you one for some reason, be sure to ask. If your employer doesn't have a W-4 form from you, the IRS requires it to treat you as a single tax filer, which means withholding the highest possible amount from your paycheck for taxes. You can get back the amount you overpay, but only in the new year when you file your tax return.
Do I Need to Submit the New Form W-4?
You should complete the redesigned W-4 only if you started a new job – or if your filing status or financial situation has changed. You do not need to fill out the new form if you have not changed employers. Your company can still use the information provided on the old W-4 form.
How Long Does It Take for W-4 Changes to Be Implemented?
When you submit a W-4, you can expect the information to go into effect fairly quickly. But how long exactly before your paycheck reflects the changes largely depends on your payroll system. Ask your employer when you turn in the form.
How Is the New W-4 Different from the Old W-4?
The biggest change is the removal of the allowances section. You no longer need to calculate how many allowances to claim to increase or decrease your withholding. The new form instead asks you to indicate whether you have more than one job or if your spouse works; how many dependents you have, and if you have other income (not from jobs), deductions or extra withholding. The new form also provides more privacy in the sense that if you do not want your employer to know you have more than one job, you do not turn in the multiple job worksheet.
How to Fill Out the W-4?
As far as IRS forms go, the new W-4 form is pretty straightforward. It has only five steps. If you are single, have one job, have no children, have no other income and plan on claiming the standard deduction on your tax return, you only need to fill out Step 1 (your name, address, Social Security number and filing status) and Step 5 (your signature).
If you have more than one job or your spouse works, you'll need to fill out Step 2. If you have children, Step 3 applies to you. And if you have other income (not from jobs), you'll be itemizing your deductions on your tax return or you want an extra amount withheld (including from other jobs), you can indicate your adjustments in Step 4.
How to Fill Out Step 2: Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works?
If your spouse works and you file jointly or if you have a second or third job, you can use either the IRS app or the two-earners/multiple jobs worksheet (page three of the W-4 instructions) to calculate how much extra should be withheld (you put this amount in Step 4). If there are only two jobs (i.e., you and your spouse each have a job, or you have two), you just check the box. (Your spouse should do the same on his or her form or you check the box on the W-4 for the other job, too.)
How to Fill Out Step 3: Claim Dependents?
You fill this out if you earn $200,000 or less (or $400,000 or less for joint filers) and have dependents. It's a simple calculation where you multiply the number of children under age 17 by $2,000 and the number of other dependents by $500 – and add the two sums.
How to Fill Out Step 4a: Other Income (Not from Jobs)?
If you have interest, dividends or capital gains that you'll owe taxes on, you can indicate here the total amount of non-pay income here. Your employer will figure it into how much taxes to withhold from your paycheck.
How to Fill Out Step 4b: Deductions?
The deductions worksheet requires some math. You'll also need to know how much you claimed in deductions on your last tax return. If you claimed the standard deduction, you don't need to fill this out. If you claimed more than the standard amount, this worksheet will help you calculate how much more. Once you have this amount, you add any student loan interest, deductible IRA contributions and certain other adjustments. You then put this total on the form.
W 4 Single Example Binary
If you get stuck, use the IRS's withholding app.
How to Fill Out Step 4c: Extra Withholding?
If you will owe more in taxes than what your salary alone would indicate, you can say here how much more you want withheld per pay period. If the extra amount is because your spouse works or because you have more than one job, you enter the amount you calculated in Step 2 – plus any other amount you want withheld.
How Does the W-4 Form Differ From the W-2?
Yes, both of these forms start with the letter ‘w,' but that's where the similarities end.
Unlike a W-4, a W-2 form is what your employer fills out for all employees and files with the IRS. It shows your annual earnings from wages and tips. It also states the amounts withheld for the year for Social Security, Medicare, state, local and federal income taxes.
The Bottom Line
If you aren't switching jobs or going through life changes, you don't need to refile your W-4 just because the form has changed. However, all new employees need to fill out a W-4 to avoid overpaying taxes. While the form is more straightforward and doesn't include allowances like it did in the past, it's still important to properly and accurately list information on your W-4.
Tax Planning and Your Financial Plan
- Income taxes are just one aspect of tax planning. If you want to preserve what you've earned and grow it in the most tax-efficient way, a financial advisor can help. To find a financial advisor to work with, use SmartAsset's free tool. It connects you with up to three advisors in your area. If you're ready to be matched with local advisors, get started now.
- Starting a new job? Even before you fill out your W-4, you can get an estimate for how much your take-home pay will be. Just use our paycheck calculator.
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If you've ever started a new job, you're familiar with the process of completing your W-4 form.
That's the IRS document your employer requires you to complete so they can determine the proper amount of income tax to withhold from your pay. Get it right, and you might get a nice refund at tax time. But get it wrong, and you may end up owing tax – plus penalties and interest.
How to fill out a Form W-4 is more important than ever. And even if you've completed the form in the past, it completely changed in 2020.
For example, in previous years the form was used primarily to calculate allowances. Each allowance was a flat amount, and you could adjust your withholding – higher or lower – by changing the number of allowances you were claiming.
Part of this was also because there was an exemption for dependents. But with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, there have been major changes in the tax code, including the elimination of claiming dependents.
That's a major reason for the near-complete change in Form W-4. Now the form requires you to make various estimates of your income and tax situation, which is a bit more complicated than simply determining a specific number of allowances.
But not to worry, in this guide, we'll show you how to fill out a Form W-4 for 2021.
Form W-4 Basics: 2021 Edition
A new employer should provide you with a blank Form W-4 to complete when you start a new job. But there may also be times when you'll want to adjust your withholding even on a job you already have. It might be necessary if you get married or have a child, since either has the potential to change your tax liability.
You should request a copy of the form from your employer (usually either the human resources department or payroll). And if all else fails, you can always get a copy that's
printable from the IRS website, complete with instructions.
Once you've completed the form, submit it to your employer. They're not required to file it with the IRS, but they should maintain a copy for their records, as well as to make necessary changes in your payroll withholding. In fact, your employer is required to make the requested changes to your withholding within 30 days of receipt of the completed form from you.
It accurately completed, the W-4 should result in either a very small amount owed when you file your income tax return or an equally small refund.
W 4 Single Example Sentences
A small refund isn't bad. When you get a large tax refund, it's because you've over withheld taxes. It's not a gift from the government, they're just giving you back your money. If you get a large refund, you've given the IRS an interest-free loan. In the tax-preparation universe, the smaller the refund, the better the tax planning!
That said, it's not horrible to get a large tax refund either. It's 'forced savings' in a sense and for some, that's a good thing. Either way, you should do what's right for you and filling out the Form W-4 properly is the first step.
Now let's get into the mechanics of how to fill out a Form W-4.
Filling Out a Form W-4
Though it's hard to see when looking at the form, the basic process of completing a W-4 is actually pretty simple. But if you've ever relied on an instruction booklet to put an unassembled item together, you already appreciate that the process can seem more complicated than it actually is.
That's certainly true with the W-4. If you're using this guide to help you prepare the form, we recommend printing off a copy of the W-4 itself you can follow along, and even fill in the information as we move forward.
Below is a screenshot of the first page of the form that you'll need to follow along.
You can begin by completing the general information requested in Step 1, Lines (a) through (c). That will include your first name and middle initial, last name, Social Security number, complete home address, and your tax filing status.
Step 2: Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works
Step 2 is where things start to get a bit complicated. You'll need to complete this section only if you have more than one job or if your spouse is also employed and you file jointly. If these don't apply, you can skip it completely.
But if it does describe your income information, you'll need to move down to Page 3, then complete Step 2(b) – Multiple Jobs Worksheet.
But this is where we need to take a little break, to make an important point. Completing this section only refers to this particular W-4. You'll still need to complete a separate W-4 for each additional job you or your spouse hold. And yes, you'll need to complete similar information on each W-4.
But for now, let's focus on the W-4 at hand.
But since having a second job or a spouse who also has a job are hardly uncommon situations, let's proceed with the assumption that one or the other will be required for this W-4.
Starting with Step 2(b), Line 1, let's assume your spouse is also employed and you are married filing jointly.
But before we complete that first line, we're first going to need to jump down to the income schedule on Page 4 (I told you this would be more complicated than in the past!)
You'll need to get the entry for Line 1 from this schedule.
Let's assume you earn $90,000 and your spouse earns $60,000 per year, for a combined income of $150,000.
Start by going down the left side of the table and identifying your own income range, which will be $80,000-$99,999. From there, go across to the column indicating an income between $60,000 and $69,999. This column will represent your spouse's income.
Where the two intersect, you'll see the number $9,420. You'll enter that amount on Line 1 of Step 2(b). Unless either you or your spouse have a second job, you can skip Line 2.
Moving down to Line 3, enter the number of pay periods for the year for the highest paying job, which is yours. As is typically the case with most jobs, we'll assume you're paid every other week, for 26 pay periods per year.
On Line 4 you'll be instructed to divide the amount on line one – $9,420 – by the number on Line 1 – 26 pay periods. That amount will be $362. You'll enter the amount on Line 4 of this schedule, then also on Page 1, Line 4(c) – Extra Withholding.
Once you've done that, we can move back to Page 1 to complete the rest of the form.
Step 3: Claim Dependents
You'll only need to complete this section if you have dependents you can claim. Now this is not for the purpose of claiming personal exemptions for those dependents, but rather for claiming the child tax credit, which will reduce your tax liability by up to $2,000 per dependent. However, you can only claim this credit if your dependents are under age 17 by the end of the tax year, and you earn no more than $200,000 as a single file or $400,000 if you are married filing jointly.
If you do qualify for the child tax credit, this part of the form is pretty simple. You can just take the number of eligible dependents and multiply it by $2,000. So, if you have two dependents, you'll be eligible for a total credit of $4,000. You can enter that amount on Page 1, Line 3.
Step 4: (optional) Other Adjustments
You'll use this section as a catchall for any other situations you have that may affect your withholding. The instructions under Step 4 outline when completing this section will apply. You'll use this section to enter information that may either increase or decrease your withholding, based on less typical tax circumstances.
W 4 Single Example Essay
Those include the following:
- a. Other income (not from jobs). This is the line you can use to increase your withholding for other income situations that may not have provided for tax withholding. This can include investment income, pensions, or even self-employment. You'll enter the total amount of other income on this line (not the tax liability you expect to have).
- b. Deductions. This line will mostly be for itemize deductions. But those will only be the amount of itemized deductions that exceed the standard deduction. You can go to the section labeled Step 4(b) to calculate these additional deductions (below). This is also where you'll enter 'above the line' deductions, like student loan interest and deductible contributions to retirement plans like IRAs.
- c. Extra withholding. If you want to have extra withholding for any purpose, such as for the expected sale of a major asset that will produce a tax liability, you can enter the estimated tax amount here.
For the purposes of this section let's assume both you and your spouse each take a $6,000 deduction for tax-deductible IRA contributions. You'll enter $12,000 on Step 4(b), Line 1, as well as on Line 5. Then transfer the same amount to Page 1, Step 4(b) of Form W-4 itself.
Completing Form W4
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Starting with Step 2(b), Line 1, let's assume your spouse is also employed and you are married filing jointly.
But before we complete that first line, we're first going to need to jump down to the income schedule on Page 4 (I told you this would be more complicated than in the past!)
You'll need to get the entry for Line 1 from this schedule.
Let's assume you earn $90,000 and your spouse earns $60,000 per year, for a combined income of $150,000.
Start by going down the left side of the table and identifying your own income range, which will be $80,000-$99,999. From there, go across to the column indicating an income between $60,000 and $69,999. This column will represent your spouse's income.
Where the two intersect, you'll see the number $9,420. You'll enter that amount on Line 1 of Step 2(b). Unless either you or your spouse have a second job, you can skip Line 2.
Moving down to Line 3, enter the number of pay periods for the year for the highest paying job, which is yours. As is typically the case with most jobs, we'll assume you're paid every other week, for 26 pay periods per year.
On Line 4 you'll be instructed to divide the amount on line one – $9,420 – by the number on Line 1 – 26 pay periods. That amount will be $362. You'll enter the amount on Line 4 of this schedule, then also on Page 1, Line 4(c) – Extra Withholding.
Once you've done that, we can move back to Page 1 to complete the rest of the form.
Step 3: Claim Dependents
You'll only need to complete this section if you have dependents you can claim. Now this is not for the purpose of claiming personal exemptions for those dependents, but rather for claiming the child tax credit, which will reduce your tax liability by up to $2,000 per dependent. However, you can only claim this credit if your dependents are under age 17 by the end of the tax year, and you earn no more than $200,000 as a single file or $400,000 if you are married filing jointly.
If you do qualify for the child tax credit, this part of the form is pretty simple. You can just take the number of eligible dependents and multiply it by $2,000. So, if you have two dependents, you'll be eligible for a total credit of $4,000. You can enter that amount on Page 1, Line 3.
Step 4: (optional) Other Adjustments
You'll use this section as a catchall for any other situations you have that may affect your withholding. The instructions under Step 4 outline when completing this section will apply. You'll use this section to enter information that may either increase or decrease your withholding, based on less typical tax circumstances.
W 4 Single Example Essay
Those include the following:
- a. Other income (not from jobs). This is the line you can use to increase your withholding for other income situations that may not have provided for tax withholding. This can include investment income, pensions, or even self-employment. You'll enter the total amount of other income on this line (not the tax liability you expect to have).
- b. Deductions. This line will mostly be for itemize deductions. But those will only be the amount of itemized deductions that exceed the standard deduction. You can go to the section labeled Step 4(b) to calculate these additional deductions (below). This is also where you'll enter 'above the line' deductions, like student loan interest and deductible contributions to retirement plans like IRAs.
- c. Extra withholding. If you want to have extra withholding for any purpose, such as for the expected sale of a major asset that will produce a tax liability, you can enter the estimated tax amount here.
For the purposes of this section let's assume both you and your spouse each take a $6,000 deduction for tax-deductible IRA contributions. You'll enter $12,000 on Step 4(b), Line 1, as well as on Line 5. Then transfer the same amount to Page 1, Step 4(b) of Form W-4 itself.
Completing Form W4
Because of the adjustments we discussed above, W-4 Page 1 will reflect the following information:
- $4,000 for the child tax credit for two children on Line 3
- $12,000 in IRA contributions on Line 4(b)
- Extra withholding of $362 on Line 4( c)
Then finally in Step 5, you'll sign and date your W-4 form, certifying that the information you submitted is correct. But once again, this form is not filed with the IRS, but only used and retained by your employer to determine the proper amount of withholding you need.
Final Thoughts
Once you've done one or two, you'll realize it's actually pretty simple. But until you reach that point, you should complete the form only with line-by-line instructions. If you're at all confused by the form, you can ask for assistance from your human resources or payroll department. But more likely, they'll refer you to your own personal tax advisor.
That step is well advised because a mistake in completing the form can result in either a large tax bill when you file your return, or the loss of net income out of your paycheck in favor of an outsized refund after filing. Properly completing Form W-4 will help you avoid either outcome.
