admin
342 Comments
Oct 18, 2016
Confused about how to fill out your W-4 form?
If you’re completing your W-4 form and have no idea how many allowances to claim, you’re not alone. That being said, it’s important to be aware of the number of allowances you’re claiming to avoid a large tax bill after filing.
The W-4 form determines how much tax is withheld from your paycheck each pay period. That means, if there is too much tax withheld throughout the year, you’ll end up receiving a tax refund when filing your taxes. The opposite is also true. If too little tax is withheld from your paycheck, you’ll end up having to pay taxes later on.
What determines the number of allowances to claim?
The number of allowances you claim on your W-4 is dependent on your life circumstances. It depends on the number of jobs you have, if you’re married or single and how many children and personal exemptions you have along with your stance in the federal tax table.
We’ll help you determine how many allowances to claim.
I’m single and have no kids, how many allowances should I claim?
-
Claiming Zero: If you claim zero, the maximum amount in tax is withheld from your paycheck. This means you’ll most likely receive a refund when filing your taxes.
-
Claiming One. If you are single, have no kids and have one job, you should probably claim one. This means, you’ll probably receive a refund when filing your taxes and you also won’t have the maximum amount taken out from your paychecks.
-
Claiming Two: If you are single and work more than one job, you can claim two at one job and zero at the other, or claim one at each job.
I’m married with no kids, how many allowances should I claim?
-
Claiming Zero: If you have a combined income that falls within the 28% or higher tax brackets, claim zero and you will owe less money during tax time.
-
Claiming One: If your combined income falls below the 28% tax bracket and you both work, you should each claim one. You’ll break even or get a small refund back when filing.
-
Claiming Two. If only one of you work and your income falls below the 28% tax bracket, you should claim two.
I’m married with one child, how many allowances should I claim?
-
Claiming One: If both spouses work, it’s best for each of you to claim one. This way you will probably will break even come tax season.
-
Claiming Two: If only one spouse works, the working spouse can claim two and will probably come close to breaking even when filing taxes.
For each additional child or dependent, just add one to the number of allowances based on the the example above.
Someone is claiming me as their dependent, how many do I claim?
-
Claim Zero: If you are being claimed as someone’s dependent, you should not be claiming any allowances.
Update your W-4 form whenever necessary.
Life changes everyday. You will need to adjust your W-4 allowances if you have recently had one of the following occur in your life:
- marriage
- divorce
- new child
- a second job
- purchase of a new home
- any other life change
Another great tool is the IRS Withholding Calculator. The W-4 allowance calculator determines your withholding based on your specific life details.
The bottom line is, the more allowances you claim, the smaller amount of taxes your employer will withhold. If too little is withheld, known as under-withholding, you could end up with a large tax bill when filing.
If you forgot to file taxes from a previous year and are curious if you had too much or too little tax withheld based on your W-4 from that prior year, you can file online now with PriorTax.
Tags:
Categories:
342 Responses to “How to Determine Your W-4 Allowances”
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*
Don’t Miss Any Updates
Sign up with your email to receive latest updates.
Comments(342)
Julie Rose
May 9, 2014
I am unemployed. I am married and my husband works full-time. We are expecting our first child in a little less than 3 months. how many allowances should my husband claim both federal and state?
Thank you.
admin
May 21, 2014
Hi Julie,
I would suggest your husband claiming 3 allowances on his W-4. Keep in mind, the fewer allowances he claims (1 or 2), the more likely he is to receive a larger tax refund although more tax will be withheld from his paychecks.
Ray
Sep 28, 2014
Hi,
I am married with no kids on 1099 while wife is on W2. How many allowances should we take as 1099 usually results in AGI below $109k?
admin
Oct 1, 2014
Hi Ray,
Since you will not be claiming allowances for a 1099, I suggest that your wife claim two allowances on her W4.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Jason
Feb 22, 2016
Hi I’m not married, 18, and work one part time job and I’m claimed as a dependent. I was wondering though if I am able to claim one allowance since I would prefer more money in each paycheck. But I do not want to have to owe taxes next year. Thanks!
admin
Feb 22, 2016
Hi Jason,
You can claim zero or one allowance and still be abiding by the IRS guidelines.
Bridgette
May 25, 2014
Hi I have never filled out a W-4 form I’m a single parent with 5 children and I have a part time job how many allowances do I claim
admin
May 27, 2014
Hi Bridgette,
If you can claim all of your children, I would suggest claiming 6 on your W-4.
Taylor
May 29, 2014
I have been working full time, my wife has not. I claim 2. She recently picked up a self employed nanny job. Can I claim a withholding allowance for her still?
admin
Jun 24, 2014
Hi Taylor,
The IRS has a number of different guidelines for a relative to qualify as a dependent. I would suggest looking over this page on the IRS website.
heather
Jun 6, 2014
I am a single mother of one. I claimed 2 on my w4 and no federal is being taken out of my checks. I have a full time job. How will these affect my tax return.
admin
Jun 24, 2014
Hi Heather,
The amount of federal income tax withheld from each paycheck is based on your gross income and the number of dependents that you claim on your W-4. I would suggest using the IRS Withholding Calculator tool to double check that your employer is correct in not withholding any federal income tax from your checks.
danielle
Jun 15, 2014
Please help me with one question, can I still file my 2011 tax return and get the money direct deposited? I have to re print it before mailing because the account I originally used is now closed…. is it to late to get my money for 2011?
admin
Jun 24, 2014
Hello Danielle,
You can still file your 2011 tax return and receive your refund. However, the refund can no longer be direct deposited. You’ll receive a paper check in the mail.
Sandy
Jun 16, 2014
I am retired and a widow with no dependents. should i be claiming 0 or 1
admin
Jun 24, 2014
Hi Sandy,
I suggest using the IRS’ Interactive Tax Assistant tool to help you figure out if you will need to file a tax return. This tool can also answer numerous other questions that you may have about filing under your limitations.
Avinash
Jun 18, 2014
I have one full time job and my wife doesn’t work, How many allowances can I claim?
admin
Jun 24, 2014
Hello Avinash,
I would suggest claiming 2 allowances on your W-4. Keep in mind, the fewer allowances you claim, the more likely you are to receive a larger tax refund although more tax will be withheld from your paychecks.
Cherice
Jun 20, 2014
Hi, I just started a job and am not sure how many to claim on my girlfriendw4. It’s me, my girlfriend and our 9mo old son. I would like a bigger paycheck but don’t want to owe taxes at end of the year.
admin
Jun 24, 2014
Hello Cherice,
According to the IRS, the following guidelines must be met in order for you to be able to claim your girlfriend on your tax return since she is not a relative:
1. they must have lived with you for entire calendar year
2. they must make less than $3,900 as their gross income for the year
3. you must have paid for more than 50% of your partner’s living expenses during the calendar year
4. cannot be a qualifying child
If she meets this criteria then you will be able to claim her as a dependent. You can claim your son as a dependent. Keep in mind that the more allowances you claim, the more money in each paycheck. However, you will also have a smaller tax refund. For more information, you can always refer back to the IRS website and answer several questions about who you can claim as a dependent.
Dana
Jun 25, 2014
I just started a new job and trying to complete the Form W-4 but I’m confused. I am a single mother of one with one full time job. Also, I’m head of the household. how many allowances should I be claiming on both federal and state?
admin
Jun 30, 2014
Hi Dana,
If you are single with one full time job, the best option is to claim 1 allowance. However, since you are claiming head of household and also have a dependent, I would refer to the IRS Withholding Calculator as well.
Stephanie
Jul 1, 2014
I am married with 3 children. My husband has 2 jobs, therefore makes more money. I am starting a new job and I am filling out the W4. I do not know the number of allowances I should claim. I do not know what he claimed on his W4. What is a good number to claim?
admin
Jul 1, 2014
Hi Stephanie,
The amount of allowances that you should claim depends on a few different factors in your situation such as if you are eligible for the child tax credit, if you are filing as head of household, etc. I suggest using the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes and will ask you several specific questions that will give you the most beneficial amount to withhold under your circumstances.
Christie
Jul 1, 2014
I’m single, no dependents or children and one job with $35,000 salary a year. $543 of taxes gets taken out of my paycheck per month. What should I claim so that I get more money in my paycheck? I would rather put that money per month somewhere else rather than getting a big tax return in April 2015. Should I claim 2?
admin
Jul 1, 2014
Hi Christie,
If you increase the amount of allowances that you claim, you will have less money withheld from each paycheck but a smaller refund (or a higher chance of owing at the end of the tax year). Keep in mind that if you are claiming zero allowances, you are having the maximum amount being withheld from your paychecks. I am going to assume that you are claiming either zero or one so by increasing your allowance amount to two, your paycheck amount should increase.
Krystal
Jul 15, 2015
Piggybacking on Christie’s questions…Is 2 the max amount a single person with 1 job and no children can claim?
admin
Jul 17, 2015
Hi Krystal,
To answer your question, no. There is technically no “maximum” you can claim on your W-4 form. The W-4 form is really used to regulate your taxes due throughout the year. You have the choice to claim more allowances and then owe the majority of your taxes after filing OR to claim less allowances and have the majority of your taxes withheld throughout the year by being spread out among your paychecks. Either way, you are paying the IRS the same amount of taxes due.
With that in mind, the amount you claim on your W-4 form with typically reflect what you will be claiming on your tax return. This is not always the case but what taxpayers tend to do to break even after filing.
glen
Feb 2, 2017
I am single and no kids .I claimed single and 1 on my taxes. Do I put 1 where it says dependents because I am claiming myself? How do I know if I am Head of Household? I am single and the only person living there and paying bills?
admin
Feb 3, 2017
Hi Glen,
Based on the information you provided in your comment above, you would claim one allowances and a single filing status. When completing your W-4 form, you are only required to submit the bottom portion to your employer to determine your withholding for the year. The more allowances you claim, the less is withheld. This could result in owing the IRS after filing. The less allowances you claim, the more is withheld. If too much is withheld, the IRS will issue you a refund.
Typically, you can claim the head of household filing status if the following applies to you:
– You were unmarried as of December 31, and
– You paid more than half the cost to run your home (or the home of a qualifying parent) for the year, and
– You supported a qualifying person
If you don’t meet all of these rules, then you would most likely file as Single.
Paul
Jul 3, 2014
Hi, My wife just got a part time job, I work full time and claimed our children on my W-4 can my wife claim them on her tax return or just claim herself?
admin
Jul 8, 2014
Hi Paul,
As long as you are claiming your children, your wife cannot (assuming you two are filing separately). However, you can split the amount of allowances that you have been claiming solely on yours.
John
Jul 7, 2014
I’m single, no dependents or children, one job with a $35,000 salary per year, and my mother still claims me as a dependent. I currently claim zero allowances for both Federal and State. Can I claim more for Federal, State, or both?
admin
Jul 8, 2014
Hi John,
You can claim more allowances as long as your mother no longer claims you as her dependent.
martha
Jul 8, 2014
Hi I got married last year in November and we filled taxes together, and I recently changed my paychecks to 3 allowances since I claim my mom, we are now expecting a baby next month, my husband has no allowances I was wondering if we both can have allowanceson our paychecks, I am actually going on maternity leave would that affect anything? Or whats best for us that we dont have to pay taxes at the end of year but still have enough for bills and rent ?
admin
Jul 8, 2014
Hi Martha,
You and your husband can both claim allowances. Keep in mind that the more allowances you claim, the more money you will see each paycheck. However, this also decreases your refund amount (or increases your chance of owing money) at the end of the tax year. With that in mind, I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator as another great reference point. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most appropriate amount of allowances to claim based on the specific answers you provide.
Beth
Jul 9, 2014
My husband started a new full time job and we’re having trouble filling out W4. I will now stay home with our 2 children. Confused on how to know how to fill out so not too much or too little is taken out of his paychecks??? We’re used to getting a decent tax return.
admin
Jul 9, 2014
Hi Beth,
I suggest using the IRS Withholding Calculator as a point of reference for your situation. It only takes several minutes to complete and will give you and your husband the most appropriate amount of allowances to claim based on the answers you provide. Also, keep in mind that the more allowances your husband claims, the more money he will see each paycheck but the less money he will receive as a refund (also increasing his chances of owing money).
Cheryl
Jul 10, 2014
I feel my husband is having too much in taxes taken out of his paycheck. We both work full time. He is claiming single and 1; I claim married and 0 and have an additional $42 in federal taxes taken out. For the last 2 years we have not claimed my daughter as her father has claimed her on his tax return due to him paying money towards her college education. This year we will be receiving student loans so I will be claiming her. My goal is NOT to get back a large refund. Breaking even would be good for me, but my husband is always looking for a refund. I was previously self employed; however I am no longer and we always had to pay. I’m thinking my husband should change his withholding to married and either 0 or 1. I’m so confused as to which would benefit. Could you please give your advice.
admin
Jul 14, 2014
Hi Cheryl,
I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. This only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim based on the specific answers you provide so that you reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
AVA
Jul 11, 2014
I am 18 years old, and have a temporary full time, minimum wage job. I just got a new part time job on top of the full time. On the first W4 I claimed zero because I want max taxes taken out. My mom will claim me as dependent. I am going to be filling out the W4 for my second job soon. Should I claim 0 if I am dependent or 2 since it is my second job?
admin
Jul 14, 2014
Hi Ava,
You can still claim zero allowances. I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim based on the specific answers you provide.
Jason
Jul 15, 2014
Hi, I am a married man and my wife does not work. I am making a little less than 40,000/year. I get paid twice a month. We just had our first baby in April and obviously qualify for the Child Tax Credit for 2014 taxes. I also contribute to a 401k plan. Currently I am claiming 2 personal allowances. After I went to IRS Withholding calculator and input my current information it said my anticipated income tax for 2014 is $0. It also suggests I change my personal allowances to 6. Does this make sense? Thank you.
W-4 form
A-1
B-1
C-1
D-1
G-2
H (add lines A through G) = 6
admin
Jul 15, 2014
Hi Jason,
The IRS Withholding Calculator gives the best estimated amount of allowances to withhold so that you reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Scott
Aug 10, 2014
I’ll be starting a new job in September (post Military) and so am filling out my W4. I’m in the same boat (nonworking spouse, plus daughter), and after reading the IRS info, listed six exemptions. However, my auditor friend advised me to claim married three. Isn’t married already factored in on Option B? So that doesn’t make 100% sense to me. Also, I understand what you are saying admin, but I am still confused. So are we going by the rules/what the IRS advises, or are we just picking a magic number out of the air? I guess I need a bit more clarity.
admin
Aug 11, 2014
Hi Scott,
I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator and going with that amount as that will get you closest to a break-even point at the end of the tax year based on the information you provide.
As far as the rules for completing your W-4, as long as you can prove the allowances you are claiming, you may do so. You wouldn’t be picking a “magic number” out of nowhere however, you do not need to claim all possible allowances if you prefer to have more taxes withheld from each paycheck.
Denise
Jul 16, 2014
Hi i jist got a job and have no idea how to fill out that w-4 paper they give you when u get hired. I am married with a house and with one child. My husband makes the real money i just have a part time job for a little extra cash. What do i put for the allowances? He said 2 for me and my child but im thinking 1 to be safe so we dont owe anything at the end. Ill only be making about 7500.00 a year
admin
Jul 16, 2014
Hi Denise,
I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you an accurate amount of allowances to claim to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Leasha
Jul 17, 2014
Hi I’m 17, single, and a dependent. I recently got two jobs, both are extremely part time, and i’m not too sure on how to fill out my w4 form. i know in line 5 and 6 i have to write zero, but im not sure if i should write “Exempt” on line 7. also, since im single and have two jobs, do i fill out the second half on the second sheet? or does that not apply because im a dependent…
admin
Jul 17, 2014
Hi Leasha,
I suggest taking a look at the IRS Tax Trail Tool for exemptions. This tool will help you to determine if you qualify as exempt.
Once you find out if you qualify as exempt of not, you can use the IRS Withholding Calculator to determine the most accurate amount of allowances to claim based on your current circumstances. This tool will help you reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Wales
Jul 30, 2014
Hi,
I am a full time college student. I will be working a 35 hour, full time internship for the next 6 months, so I won’t be in school during that period. I live with both my parents, but I filed my own taxes. Do I claim 0 or 1 for my allowances? I also have a good scholarship from my college. Will that be a factor?
Thanks!
admin
Jul 31, 2014
Hi Wales,
If you claim zero allowances, you’ll see a bit less in each paycheck than you would see if you claim one allowance (but possibly a higher refund at the end of the tax year) so it depends on your preference.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out (meaning smaller paychecks). If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Josh
Aug 4, 2014
Hello, my girlfriend is somehow claiming a 3 with no dependents. Her gross pay is $41k a year, but she is getting almost $500 taken out of her paychecks. She does not have any children with only one job, what should she claim to get a bigger paycheck?
admin
Aug 4, 2014
Hi Josh,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Josh
Aug 4, 2014
That’s what I understand, however, correct me if I’m wrong, but you can’t claim whatever you want you have to follow rules i.e. you can only claim 0 if someone is claiming you, you can only claim 2 if you are either married or have 2 jobs and you can only claim 3 if you are married with a child.
Marquita
Aug 11, 2014
Hey, I have a full-time job and no kids but I claim my brother who is disable. How may allowances should I put on my form?
admin
Aug 12, 2014
Hi Marquita,
I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. This only takes a few minutes to complete and will be able to give you the most appropriate amount of allowances to claim to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year based on the specific information you provide.
leeann
Aug 17, 2014
I’m single with one child how many should I claim?
admin
Aug 26, 2014
Hi Leeann,
I suggest claiming one or two allowances. You can also take a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator as a second point of reference. This only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you an answer based on
Andrea
Aug 19, 2014
Hello!
I am separated (for over a year) and my (ex) husband and I file separate tax returns (married-filing separate).
We have two children together and we each claim one on our tax returns.
I am employed with a full time job and pay child care expenses all by myself.
My question is 1) Do I file Married or Single for tax withholding, and 2) What should I put for my total allowances. The calculator says I should claim 6, but that seems way too high.
Thank you.
Andrea
Aug 19, 2014
I should probably add that I do pay him child support monthly because he does not work. I don’t know if this makes any difference.
admin
Aug 26, 2014
Hi Andrea,
According to the IRS, your marital status on the last day of the year determines your marital status for the entire year. Single filing status generally applies to anyone who is unmarried, divorced or legally separated according to state law.
As far as your withholdings are concerned, I suggest researching if you are eligible for the child tax credit since it is safe to assume you will be claiming your two little ones. The reason the calculator is at six withholdings is because it is probably taking into account that you are eligible for this credit.
Josh
Aug 20, 2014
I am married (both of us work), with 2 small children. Previously, I was claiming no exemptions on my w-4, and received a very large tax return at the end of the year. I would like to have less withheld each paycheck, yet still get a tax return at the end of the year. How many allowances should I claim?
admin
Aug 26, 2014
Hi Josh,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Raquel
Aug 25, 2014
Hello, My name is Raquel
Iam starting a new job so I need to do my W-4 . My husband is military and claims me and both our children, do I just right Zero on line #5? and that is all I fill out for my W-4
Thank You
Raquel
admin
Aug 26, 2014
Hi Raquel,
If your husband is going to continue claiming you and your children, then I suggest claiming zero allowances.
Keep in mind, the general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Carolina
Aug 27, 2014
Hello,
I got married last week. I work full time. My husband does not. I want the same amount to be withheld as I did before I was married. Should I file my W-4 as Married, withhold at single rate with 0 allowances? My status before said Single with 0 allowances.
admin
Aug 27, 2014
Hi Carolina,
Congratulations!
Yes, you are correct. You can still get the single withholding rate if you are married. The W-4 has a checkbox labeled “Married, but withhold at higher Single rate.” By making this selection you get the single withholding rate even though you are married. This box is located on the bottom half of the first page of the W4 (option #3).
TASH
Aug 27, 2014
I WILL BE STARTING A NEW JOB. MY HUSBAND AND I JUST HAD OUR FIRST BABY. WE BOTH FILE SEPARATELY. MY NAME IS HYPHENATED SO I FILE AS SINGLE. HOW MANY ALLOWANCES SHOULD I PUT ON MY W-4 FOR MY NEW JOB?
admin
Aug 27, 2014
Hi Tash,
Congratulations on the new addition!
The amount of allowances you claim would depend on who is claiming your child. Typically, it is more beneficial for the spouse with the higher income to claim more allowances.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Susan
Aug 28, 2014
Single, no dependents. Retired October 2013.
Starting a part time job, 6 -10 hr/wk at $15 an hour
Have not touched my retirement portfolio yet, just getting SS (1676/mo)
Should I claim 0 or 1 exemption on my W-4?
Thank you.
admin
Aug 29, 2014
Hi Susan,
Depending on your preference, claiming zero or one allowance will both will have you owing nearly nothing at the end of the tax year; possibly even receiving a refund.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Sarah Selden
Sep 1, 2014
I am married and both my husband and I work full-time jobs. We have three children, ages 18, 17, and 12. I recently had to fill out a W-4 form at my new place of employment. I am concerned that I selected too many “allowances.” I selected “9” taking into account the “child tax credit” for our two children under the age of 18. Should I go back and change my allowances to “5”….I would rather get a refund for taxes as we normally due, but am concerned I am not having enough taken out of my check. Thanks so much for your advice.
admin
Sep 2, 2014
Hi Sarah,
By following the instructions on the W4, you have calculated the maximum amount of allowances that you are able to claim based on your circumstances. You are always able to claim less than that amount.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
K
Sep 10, 2014
Hello,
I just got a new job. I am married with 4 kids. Spouse unemployed. How many should I claim fro federal and state?
Thanks.
admin
Sep 10, 2014
Hi K,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Christina
Sep 17, 2014
Hello,
I’m single but I’m supporting my family and will be claiming my mom as a dependent. How many allowances should I claim? I don’t want to be owing taxes later though.
Thanks!
admin
Sep 18, 2014
Hi Christina,
The amount of allowances you claim will depend on how many members of your family are your dependents. I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Christina
Sep 17, 2014
Hi,
I’m single and I’m planning on adding my mom (unemployed) as my dependent. I’m guessing I would qualify as the head of household as well. How many allowances should I claim and make sure I don’t owe any later on? Thanks!
taylor
Sep 19, 2014
Hi,
I completed the IRS withholding calculator and it said for my husband to claim 12 allowances (?!?!) and me 0, and we would still get a refund. doesn’t make any sense to me. does that sound correct? thanks for any advice!
married
2 children by the end of this year
own house
husband- bread winner
me- very part time job
need anything else? thanks so much.
admin
Sep 22, 2014
Hi Taylor,
That amount does seem a bit high which may result in you and your husband owing money at the end of the tax year. With the above information that you provided, I would suggest claiming no more than four allowances.
Patricia
Sep 22, 2014
My husband has been retired and I work full time. He receives a social security check. He will be starting a part time job and we are not sure if he should file 0 or 1 on his W4. We carry a mortgage so have interest to claim and get a nice refund. I want to continue getting a big refund. Please advise.
admin
Sep 22, 2014
Hi Patricia,
If you would like a larger refund, I suggest claiming zero allowances.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Kelly
Sep 23, 2014
Hi, I am married, my husbands income tax refund goes towards his child support since he is behind, should we always file separately, I am worried if we do it jointly I will lose out on my refund? Also we both currently work full time and claim 0, should we at least be claiming 1 for allowances? Thank you.
admin
Sep 23, 2014
Hi Kelly,
Although it is typically more beneficial to file jointly under normal circumstances, I suggest filing separately with your specific situation. The IRS will most likely not issue a refund to you and your husband since he owes child support.
When it comes to claiming allowances, the general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Sarah Lawrence
Oct 21, 2014
I am in the same scenario and have been since 2010. You don’t need to file separately, in fact some credits you would lose if you don’t file jointly. What you do is wait for them to take your husbands return and then file an injured spouse claim. This states that is is NOT your debt, etc. me and my husband have two kids and I normally claim them both when I do the injured spouse. I get a refund for my portion, which is figured by the IRS, in like 6-8 weeks.
Lucy
Sep 24, 2014
I’m currently claiming myself, my fiance, and our 3 children on my allowances making 5. I’m also in college fulltime. Should I add more allowances for the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit making 7 allowances?
admin
Sep 24, 2014
Hi Lucy,
You would not claim an allowance for these credits. You will, however, report both credits when you file your tax return at the end of the financial year.
Linda
Sep 29, 2014
I’m a single mom with 2 kids. I work part time & I don’t make a lot of money. My paycheck stub says that I have 8 exemptions. Why is that? It also says that the only taxes I pay are for social security and the state. I’m afraid that I’ll end up owing..
admin
Sep 29, 2014
Hi Linda,
I suggest speaking with your pay roll department and requesting to update your W4. You can update the amount of allowances that you are claiming.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a large number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Rebecca
Oct 10, 2014
Hello, my boyfriend got a job and we have a daughter he claimed zero and zero. He wants the refund so that’s why he claimed zero but should he claim 0 and 1 or is it okay he claimed 0 and 0? He can still claimed who he wants on his taxes at the end of the year and still yet get a refund.
admin
Oct 10, 2014
Hi Rebecca,
I suggest that your boyfriend claim at least one on his W4. By claiming zero, the absolute maximum is being withheld from each paycheck. Claiming one will most likely allow for a refund as well; maybe a bit smaller but still existent (with more money in each paycheck as well).
Also, I suggest checking into claiming the child tax credit for your daughter. There are income restrictions, however this credit applies to many parents.
Jahleesa
Oct 16, 2014
I am turning 24 years old in November and my mom did claim me on her taxes this year. However I will be starting a job this year. As far as personal allowances go do i put 0 or 1 on my w4 form?
Jahleesa
Oct 16, 2014
I am also single with no kids
admin
Oct 17, 2014
Hi Jahleesa,
Since your mom is no longer claiming you on her taxes, I suggest claiming one as single with one job.
Deanne
Oct 18, 2014
hi, I am wondering if I used the right filing status for my new job. I filed married 0 dependents, since I am married with adult children. My husband files single no dependents. At tax time we file married. I just started new job in July after being laid off for first half of year. I just don’t want to have to owe at end of year. My other job I filed single. Did I do the right thing?
admin
Oct 20, 2014
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Karla Pizarro
Oct 22, 2014
Hi,
I am a single mother of triplets (head of household) and while calculating the amount of allowances, I came up with 12. Basically, my question is, will I get a lot of money deducted from my paycheck or too little? I don’t want to end up having to pay the IRS. Thank you.
A -1
B – 1
C – 0 (not sure if that’s right, since I am single and have only 1 job)
D-3
E- 1
F- 1
G – 5
H – 12 – Total
admin
Oct 31, 2014
Hi Karla,
I suggest claiming less than twelve on your W-4 form to avoid owing the IRS.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Diana
Oct 28, 2014
married
we’re both employed
no kids
filing married jointly (not sure if this made a difference)
how many allowances should we claim?
Thank you!
admin
Oct 31, 2014
Hi Diana,
I suggest that you each claim one on your W-4.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Broke_Kid
Oct 29, 2014
I’m a single person, I do have 1 child but he lives with his mother. I do pay child support, my yearly reported W2 pay is 63K.. I live alone .. what should my “dependents” be ?
admin
Oct 31, 2014
Hi,
From what you have said above, you are not the one claiming your child as a dependent. Since a person can only be claimed once, I suggest that you claim one on your W-4 form.
Carrie
Nov 5, 2014
Hello
I work one full time job and one part time job.. I currently have both at 1 exemption each. I do not want to owe money on my taxes so is this the best option for me or should i change one to 0?
admin
Nov 5, 2014
Hi Carrie,
If you are going to update your W-4 form, I suggest claiming one at the higher paying job and zero at the other.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Phil L
Nov 6, 2014
I need some help. I claim 1 exemption. I also have a live in girlfriend with two children. From what i understand i am not allowed to claim any of them. I dont know what to do. Its hard to have so much taken out every month and only get back a little bit as if i was supporting only.myself instead of a family.of 4
admin
Nov 24, 2014
Hi Phil,
You can claim more on your W-4. However, you cannot claim anyone who does not qualify as a dependent when you file your taxes. By claiming more on your W-4, you will see more each paycheck, however this will increase your risk of owing the IRS at the end of the year. Keep in mind that you can always set up a payment plan with the IRS if you do end up owing.
Shellie
Nov 12, 2014
I am a widow, full time employed with one child in high school and one full time student in college. I was widowed in 2008. Do I claim single or married on my W-4?
admin
Nov 24, 2014
Hi Shellie,
I am very sorry for your loss.
To answer your questions, you will claim single for your 2014/2015 W-4 form since it happened in 2008. I suggest looking into the requirements for claiming head of household to see if you qualify. You can generally claim head of household if you are unmarried and pay more tan 50% of the costs of keeping up a home for yourself and your dependent(s) or other qualifying individuals.
John smith
Nov 12, 2014
I am married, and my wife does not work. If I claim 2 will I owe money?
admin
Nov 24, 2014
Hi John,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
John smith
Nov 12, 2014
I am married, and my wife does not work. If I claim 2 will I owe money? I am not claimed as a dependent.
admin
Nov 24, 2014
Hi John,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Assal Jouzdani
Nov 14, 2014
I’m 25, single and own a home. How much do I claim? I claimed 2 on my w4 when starting my new job but a lot is being taking out of my paycheck and I don’t want to have to owe anything at the end of the year on top of the amount that is being taking out of my check bi-weekly.
Did I fill out my w4 correctly or can I make adjustments so that I could get a refund at the end of the year.
Assal Jouzdani
Nov 14, 2014
Just kidding I claimed 3 not 2.
A=1
B=1
E=1
admin
Nov 24, 2014
Hi Assal,
I would suggest claiming one or two. However, if you feel that too much is being withheld from your paycheck, take a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Miss Wright
Nov 27, 2014
I recently had a baby and changed my allowances from single 0 to single 2. When I did the IRS witholding calculator it says I should have 8 allowances is that correct or should I just stick with the 2
admin
Dec 11, 2014
Hi Miss Wright,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Patrick
Nov 30, 2014
Hello, I just had a question since my girlfriend just got a job. I’ve always claimed 3 meaning my self my son and my girlfriend. Should I conitinue claiming 3 since she got a job? She will be working part time as a waitress. Should she just claim zero? if you can help, I would appreciate it so much. Thank you.
admin
Dec 17, 2014
Hi Patrick,
I suggest that you claim two allowances and your girlfriend claim one.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Ivan
Dec 1, 2014
I live with my girlfriend and her two year old daughter. We both work. She claims 2 and I claim zero, should I increase this to 1? Would I still get a small refund every year?
admin
Dec 17, 2014
Hi Ivan,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
liz
Dec 11, 2014
I am single with one kid and I am claiming three. Am I going to get a refund back?
admin
Dec 17, 2014
Hi Liz,
This will depend on your income, if you are claiming head of household, and several other factors.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4, you will calculate the maximum amount that you can claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount taken out. If you claim a larger number, you’ll have less taken out. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
I also suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Mark
Dec 13, 2014
Hi I’m 18 and I have 1 job how many exemptions should I have if I’m single and have no kids
admin
Dec 17, 2014
Hi Mark,
I suggest claiming one on your W-4 as single with one job.
Lisa
Dec 16, 2014
My husband works full-time, we have one son, and I have two part-time jobs. I am filling out a W-4 for my second part-time job. What should I file on my W-4?
admin
Dec 22, 2014
Hi Lisa,
I would suggest that the spouse earning the higher income claim the majority of allowances on their W-4.
For example, if your husband is earning a higher income at his full-time job then I suggest he claim your son and any other allowances that he chooses (ie: himself and any other dependents). I would then suggest that you claim one allowance at one job and zero at the other, or zero allowances at both jobs.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Corey
Dec 27, 2014
I am married with one child. My wife works full time as do I and we file jointly. How should we file and how many dependents should we both claim
admin
Dec 30, 2014
Hi Corey,
It is typically most financially beneficial for a couple to file jointly unless there is a specific reason that they know they should not.
When filling out your W-4 Form, the general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the directions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim. However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
In order to do this, I suggest taking a look at the IRS Withholding Calculator. It only takes a few minutes to complete and will give you the most accurate amount of allowances to claim in order to reach that break-even point at the end of the tax year.
Ciara
Jan 2, 2015
Hi, I am 17 and still in high school with a part-time job. I am still a dependent on my parents. What do I claim on my W-4s. My employer says I can do claim exempt. Do I claim “0” or “1”. Thanks
admin
Jan 8, 2015
Hi Ciara,
I would suggest claiming zero on your W-4 as single with one source of income and your parents claiming you as a dependent.
Karen
Jan 15, 2015
Hi, I am 22 years old filing for the first time, had a full time job during 2014, Single. What are my tax exemptions on my W-4 “1” or “2”?
admin
Jan 16, 2015
Hi Karen,
I would suggest claiming one on your W-4 as single with one source of income.
Janet
Jan 15, 2015
My husband was working but he lost his job and is not getting unemployment. I work a part time job. Can I claim him as an allowance even though he has worked?
admin
Jan 16, 2015
Hi Janet,
The amount you report on your W-4 can be as high or low as you choose. This is only an estimate for the amount that will be withheld from your pay throughout the year. When it comes to claiming him as a dependent when filing your taxes, you will need to refer to a set of requirements that you can find on the IRS website.
Bre
Jan 19, 2015
I am married 2 small kids me and my husband pretty much make the same amount of money what should we each put on our w4’s.
admin
Jan 28, 2015
Hi Bre,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Steven
Jan 21, 2015
I am married and will be filing jointly, my wife and I both work full time. We also have other side jobs that only total $5000 a year each. How many allowances should we claim on our individual pay checks in order to break even?
admin
Jan 28, 2015
Hi Steven,
I suggest that you each claim one with the provided information.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Cristian
Jan 22, 2015
Hi my sister leaves alone she has one kid and one only job what will be the best way for her to fill out a w4
admin
Jan 28, 2015
Hi Christian,
I suggest that she claim two on her W-4 form.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Andrea
Jan 22, 2015
What should I put as the total number of allowances on the W-4. I’m married filing joint, my husband works 1 full time job. I am starting employment (full-time), and we have 2 children.
admin
Feb 11, 2015
Hi Andrea,
I suggest that the spouse with the higher income claim the majority of allowances and the other claim one.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability or refund, at the end of the year, be as close to zero as possible.
Blanca velazco
Jan 27, 2015
I am single mother with a full time job and I have 1 child how many allowances should I claim?
admin
Feb 4, 2015
Hi Blanca,
I suggest claiming two allowances on your W-4 form. The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability or refund, at the end of the year, be as close to zero as possible.
Bianca
Jan 28, 2015
I’m married with one child. My husband doesn’t work and I recently got a part time job. I claimed one on my W-4. If my husband gets a job, can he claim as well? We do our taxes jointly.
admin
Jan 28, 2015
Hi Bianca,
He definitely can claim one.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability (or refund) at the end of the year be as close to zero as possible.
Jennifer Harm
Jan 30, 2015
I’m married with no children. We live with my parents but pay them rent for the mortgage. For the past two years we have to owe the IRS more money, we always received a rebate in the past. We both claim 0 on our W-2’s. What should we do for next year in order to get a refund? I guess we make just enough money to fall into a higher tax bracket. Thank you.
admin
Feb 11, 2015
Hi Jennifer,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability or refund, at the end of the year, be as close to zero as possible.
April
Feb 3, 2015
Hi,
I am single. I started a new job in jan 2015. I have a child that is 6 months. What should I claim on my w4?
admin
Feb 4, 2015
Hi April,
Congratulations on the new addition!
I suggest claiming no more than three. The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability or refund, at the end of the year, be as close to zero as possible.
Je
Feb 4, 2015
I work 2 full time jobs,annual income of 120,000 and my husband is not working ,no kids.what should be my number of allowance in my W-4.
admin
Feb 4, 2015
Hi Je,
I suggest claiming two allowances all together. You have a few options. You could claim both allowances on one W-4 and zero on the other (I suggest claiming on the higher paying job) OR you could split the allowances and claim one allowance on each W-4.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability or refund, at the end of the year, be as close to zero as possible.
Sue
Feb 4, 2015
Hi,
I am married with one child and one more coming. I am the primary breadwinner, my husband only makes less than 10k a year. What should i claim?
admin
Feb 11, 2015
Hi Sue,
I suggest claiming two or three.
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability or refund, at the end of the year, be as close to zero as possible.
Cheryl
Feb 5, 2015
My friend is recently widowed, going from married to filing single in 2015… he makes about $100,00….how much more in taxes will he be burdened with, aside from him filing jointly previously…with with holdings, and of course excluding, no mortgage, has second mortgage…what is the difference between single vs married, what should he buy? like a second home to rent out, has a new camper with payment…Just want to tell him how he should adjust his W-4 so that he does not get hammered with taxes
admin
Feb 11, 2015
Hi Cheryl,
I am sorry for your friend’s loss.
You can still file as married filing jointly with your deceased spouse for the year of death – unless you remarry during that year. It’s your responsibility to file a final return for your deceased spouse.
Karan Singh
Feb 5, 2015
I am married. My wife and I both work. She is 24 years old. And we do not have kids.
I have been claiming her as my dependent for the past 2 years. And thus, my exemptions / allowances count on my W-4 has been 3.
As for my spouse, she claimed 0 for the entire tax year of 2014. She was working with one job until August. Then, she quit, and found another one.
Are we claiming the allowances correctly? I have a feeling that something may be off. Can you please guide us? Thank you.
admin
Feb 11, 2015
Hi Karan,
The general rule is that the more allowances you claim, the less withholding you’ll have taken out of your paycheck each pay period. By following the instructions on the Personal Allowances Worksheet of your W-4 Form, you will calculate the maximum amount that you should claim (Keep in mind that this worksheet will not be given to your employer or the IRS). However, you can always claim less than that to ensure that enough will be withheld from each paycheck. If you claim zero, you’ll have the maximum amount withheld. If you claim a larger amount, you’ll have less withheld. The absolute ideal scenario is to have your tax liability or refund, at the end of the year, be as close to zero as possible.
Arri
Mar 17, 2015
I have a son and I recently married my same sex domestic partner. She doesn’t work and is actually waiting on getting disability. I’ve put 1 in the allowances since I was old enough to work but how would I put this in my allowances, if I can change it? Also, would it be better to file next year separately or do a joint file?
admin
Apr 6, 2015
Hi Arri,
Congrats on your recent marriage!
If you would like less tax withheld from your paychecks, I would suggest claiming your allowances to 2 (that’s if you plan on claiming your son when filing your taxes). Increasing the number of allowances you claim on your W4 decreases the amount of taxes withheld from your pay and also decreases the size of your tax refund.
To answer your second question, filing jointly has more tax incentives. Unless you or your spouse has a high number of medical expenses, I would suggest filing jointly.
Susan
Mar 25, 2015
I am married and have 3 kids. My husband is 1099 every year and I have w2. We end up owing every year. What should I be claiming on my W4?
admin
Apr 29, 2015
Hello Susan,
You are most likely claiming a high amount of allowances on your W-4 which is why you end up owing the IRS at the end of the tax year. The W-4 only regulates how much money is withheld from your paycheck each pay period to cover the income taxes that need to be paid. To lower the amount owed to the IRS or to allow for a refund at the end of the year, updating your W-4 to claim less allowances may be a smart move. For example, if you are currently claiming 5 allowances, I suggest updating that to claiming 3 allowances. This will allow for more to be taken out of each paycheck but also lowers the amount you will be owing after filing.
Simmy
Apr 7, 2015
Hello:
I am married, we both work full time and we have one child (3 of us in total), along with listing my grandfather as an exemption on our taxes. What should I put on my w4, 3 or 4? Is it true if I put three, I only have to pay state (California) taxes? If I put exempt and do not pay anything, how much will I owe later? What can I do if I put exempt so that I do not owe? I am trying to maximize the income I take home, and minimize the taxes I pay, without owing anything after I file taxes. I usually get a refund.
Thank you.
Simmy
admin
May 11, 2015
Hi Simmy,
When completing your W-4, it is important to understand how claiming allowances work. The higher the amount of allowances you claim, the less money will be withheld from each paycheck. You will see more money in each paycheck but may also owe (or have a smaller refund) after filing your taxes. On the other hand, if you claim less allowances on your W-4, you will see less money in each paycheck but will have a larger refund come tax time.
When completing your W-4, choosing three allowances instead of four will not omit you from paying CA state taxes. How much you owe will ultimately depend on how much is withheld throughout the year, your income, filing status, etc…
Lorena
Apr 9, 2015
HI great article
im sinlge no kids live alone have student loans which i make payment on every month. i always claim 1 for my allowance i was advised by an accountant to change it to 0 to get a bigger refund.
but i want to change it i make about 44k and i want to claim 2 allowances is that a good idea? i dont want to owe money to the IRS and i dont mind a small or no tax refund.
admin
Apr 28, 2015
Hi Lorena,
Paying back student loans can be a bit of a burden. If you would like to see more of your income in each paycheck, you can update your W4 to claim two allowances instead of one. This will increase your likelihood of owing the IRS when filing. However, you may be eligible to claim your student loan interest, allowing you a bit of leeway for the extra allowances claimed throughout the year.
Anita Rodriguez
Apr 11, 2015
Hi I am married my husband is unemployed currently and we have two children. I am curious how to claim. I think I put 4 and my job still shoes 9 fed tax taken out my check. What’s wrong??????
admin
Apr 27, 2015
Hi Anita,
It is a smart move to double check your pay statements to make sure that the amount you’re claiming on your W-4 is up to date. Since you have noticed an issue with the amount, it is in your best interest to update this information with your payroll department. You can update the amount on your W-4 (and any other information reported on that form) as often as needed. The changes will be put into effect for the following pay period.
Rob C
Apr 16, 2015
Good morning! I am divorced, single-job, and my ex and I are each claiming one of our twins from now on. How should I be claiming my allowances? I believe I qualify as head of household since its only me and with a salary of around 80K I think I qualify for a child tax credit? I don’t care about a huge return, just really want to avoid owing come springtime next year.
Thanks!
admin
Apr 29, 2015
Hello Rob,
Your safest bet would be to claim two or three allowances on your W-4. Any more than that and you run the risk of owing the IRS come tax time. According to what you have stated above, you would qualify as head of household and could claim the child tax credit as well.
MALIA
Apr 16, 2015
Hello,
I just recently got married, but I am the only one that has an income. What should i claim on my allowances?Also how will it affect my paycheck/ tax refund?
admin
Apr 28, 2015
Hi Malia,
Congratulations on getting married! As far as your W4 goes, you will need to update your filing status to ‘married’. When claiming allowances, you can still claim the same amount that you were claiming with a ‘single’ filing status. However, if you would like to see a bit more of each paycheck in your pocket throughout the year now that you are providing for two, you can increase that amount to two.
You may also want to take a look at the withholding calculator that the IRS provides on their website which will allow you to take into account more personal information (ie: income, dependents, etc…) to see a more accurate amount to claim to break even come tax time.
Rob
Apr 17, 2015
I am married with two young children. Both my wife and I work full-time. This year our taxable income was about 161K. We ended up owing about 6K in taxes. What should our exemptions be so that we at least break even in our taxes? I previously had 2 exemptions and I am not sure about my wife. I just changed that to zero exemptions to have more taxes withheld. Does this seem like a reasonable plan of action?
admin
May 6, 2015
Hi Rob,
Lowering the amount that you each claim on your W-4 form will definitely lessen the amount you owe after filing. Also keep in mind that when filing a joint tax return, you and your spouse are seen as one single tax entity. This means that the amount you each claim on your W-4 will impact the total amount owed (or refunded) come time to file.
Emily
Apr 20, 2015
I am recently married and work full time. My husband is still in school and has a work study position. He will also be working a temporary, 10-week paid internship this summer before going back to school in the fall. Should I claim Married 2?
admin
May 11, 2015
Hi Emily,
Congratulations on getting married!
Since you will be earning the higher income, you definitely have the right idea with claiming a higher amount of allowances than your spouse. If you claim two while your husband claims zero or one, you will most likely break even at tax time; not owing a large amount to the IRS or claiming an extremely large refund.
Atal
Apr 29, 2015
Between me and my husband we make 134k and have 2 kids. Seems like we are paying alot in taxes every paycheck.
How much should be enter in our allowances to even break even or get refund.
admin
May 11, 2015
Hi Atal,
Unfortunately, there is no magic number of allowances to be claim on your W-4 form. Even the worksheet provided on your form will only provide you with an amount that you could realistically claim. My suggestion would be to claim a higher amount of allowances on your W-4 if you would like to receive more money with each paycheck. Keep in mind that by doing this, you will be allowing less to be withheld which could ultimately cause you to owe more to the IRS after filing.
Another way to lower your tax bill would be to look into any credits that you are eligible to claim or deductions that you could report.
ImProudMama
May 19, 2015
My husband passed away April 1, 2015, at the time he passed away we were separated. We have one minor child together.
Should I change my W-4 to Single or Married?
Thank you.
admin
May 20, 2015
Hi,
I’m so sorry about your loss.
If you were still officially married when he passed, you are considered ‘married’ for the whole year for filing status purposes. Therefore, you can keep a married status on your W-4 form for the year. If you do not remarry before the end of the tax year, you can file a joint tax return as well. If you remarried before the end of the tax year, you can file a joint return with your new spouse. Your deceased spouse’s filing status is married filing separately for that year.
ImProudMama
May 20, 2015
Thank you. Yes, we were still officially married.
Marie Amafou
May 22, 2015
Hello,
My husband is working and is claiming me and my daughter. I just found a Job and need to file my w4. what is the best option so we can get any refund at the end. We file jointly.
Thanks
admin
May 26, 2015
Hi Marie,
Congratulations and good luck with the new job!
If you would like to receive a refund after filing your taxes, you should claim the least amount of allowances on your W-4 form as possible. Many will claim zero allowances to ensure themselves a refund after filing. This allows the maximum amount to be withheld from your paychecks to cover taxes due. If too much is withheld, a refund is issued. This is typically the case when claiming zero allowances. Claiming one allowance will allow for a bit more in each paycheck but less of a refund.
Also keep in mind that you can update your W-4 when necessary and your payroll department will put the updates into effect immediately.
Sara
May 27, 2015
Divorced 2 kids their fathers claim them every other year. What do I put on my w4
admin
May 27, 2015
Hi Sara,
Since you will be claiming two dependents every other year, you will most likely want to update your W-4 form annually. That being said, if this is your year to claim them, you will want to claim two extra allowances than you would if this is the year their father will be claiming them on his taxes (and vice versa). To break it down even further, I suggest claiming one allowance on your W-4 for the years you aren’t claiming both dependents. On the years that you are claiming two dependents on your taxes, you should update your W-4 to claim three allowances.
You’ll want to update your W-4 annually to ensure that enough is being withheld from your paychecks throughout the year to cover the taxes you owe.
Cindy
May 28, 2015
I’m 18 and a student – starting 2 part time jobs – for the Summer only –
Do I have to file for Taxes if I make less than 3K?
and how much should I claim on the W-4? My mom will claim me as a dependent for 2016.
admin
Jun 1, 2015
Hi Cindy,
If your only income for the tax year is less than $3,000 you do not need to file taxes. Keep in mind though that if you are having taxes withheld from your paychecks, you may want to file in order to claim a refund. The choice is yours but you are not required to do so.
When it comes to your W-4, you should claim zero allowances. This should ensure that you won’t owe the IRS if you do end up filing to get a refund.
Alvaro
May 29, 2015
Hi I’m 19 i just finished H.S i still live with my parents but im going to do my taxes separate and i single with no kids how many allowances should i claim?
admin
Jun 1, 2015
Hi Alvaro,
Congrats on graduating! You’ll most likely want to claim zero or one allowance. If you claim zero, the maximum amount of tax will be withheld from your paychecks throughout the year. Now, if the amount withheld exceeds the amount you actually owe for taxes, you will be issued a refund from the IRS after you file. If you claim one, there will still be a substantial amount of tax withheld from your paychecks but you will see a bit more take-home-pay throughout the year. You may not want to claim more than one allowance since that could result in not enough taxes being withheld over the course of the year. That would cause you to owe the IRS after filing instead of getting a refund.
Rob Ferreyra
Jun 4, 2015
HI! I’m married no kids and making about 62k a year . My wife does not work so every penny counts. I want more money in my pocket now rather than a big refund at the end of the year . How many allowances should I claim? I really dont want to owe the IRS during tax season either
admin
Jun 26, 2015
Hi Rob,
Although you would like to see more in each paycheck now, I suggest claiming no more than three allowances on your W-4 form if you also do not want to owe the IRS after filing. Three allowances will give you more take-home-pay each pay period while also providing the IRS with a sufficient amount for taxes.
Matt
Jun 11, 2015
I’m currently claiming 2 and I work a full commission job which can be challenging so I’d like to get the most out of my paycheck. I work in a full commission job and then have a part time job where I barely work at all but I’m on their books. I’m single with no kids. I’m contemplating claiming more on certain pay periods in order to see more money back when the time calls for it but I’m also worried about over doing it to where I have to owe back taxes. I’m not making a tremendous amount of money and when I get paid, I’m typically taxed 30 to 33%. Is it okay to claim 5 occassionally and switch back to 2 and should I do this on bigger paychecks or the smaller ones? Thanks for your help!
admin
Jun 22, 2015
Hi Matt,
I see where you are coming from. However, if you are filing as single with no dependents, then you may want to claim zero or one allowances. This is especially true if you are planning to increase your allowances on high-commission pay periods. Claiming two already runs you the risk of owing the IRS after filing your taxes.
That being said, you’ll want to claim the higher amount of allowances when you are receiving a larger paycheck.
maribel
Jun 17, 2015
I am single,head of household and with one dependent I filled out my w4 and it added up to 6 how many allowances should I be claiming
admin
Jun 22, 2015
Hi Maribel,
The personal allowance worksheet at the top of each W-4 form will help you calculate the maximum amount of allowances you can claim. I suggest claiming three allowances and if you feel that you need more money in each paycheck, adjust your W-4 as necessary. Keep in mind that claiming more allowances will give you more money each pay period but may result in owing the IRS after filing your tax return for the year.
Margyn
Jun 22, 2015
I’m a single 20 year old parent. I have a part time job and a 3 year old daughter. When I did my w-4 form at work I think I messed up cause it says I have 4 allowances, should I change that? How many allowances should I claim in my situation?
admin
Jun 22, 2015
Hi Margyn,
You may want to adjust your W-4 form so that more tax is being withheld from each of your paychecks this way you won’t end up owing the IRS a hefty amount after filing your tax return. If you are claiming your daughter as a dependent, then you will most likely want to claim two allowances. If you are also going to be filing as head of household, then you will want to claim an additional allowance for a total of three on your W-4 form.
Jon M.
Jun 22, 2015
Hello there. My wife and I divorced earlier this year. She keeps main custody of our two children, but I pay for child care. We both work full time. How should I adjust my W-4?
admin
Jun 22, 2015
Hi Jon,
Since you are not the custodial parent, you will not be the one to claim your children on your tax return. With that in mind, you will most likely want to adjust your W-4 form to claim one allowance for yourself. Now if you and your ex-wife have an agreement in which you WILL be claiming one or both of your children, then you will want to update your W-4 to add one allowance for each child.
susy
Jun 24, 2015
Am married with one baby were do i put the one in A B C D
Thanks for the help
admin
Jun 26, 2015
Hi Susy,
If you already know how many allowances you would like to claim, you can report that number on line 5. As you will see (in extremely small print so it’s easy to overlook), you only need to provide your employer with the bottom half of the W-4 form. However, based on your situation above, you would most likely fill out the personal allowances worksheet with 1 allowance for “A” and 1 allowance for “D” (if you are claiming your child on your tax return as a dependent).
Felipe
Jul 2, 2015
Hi, I’m married (she doesn’t work) and we have a baby. I need to put 3?
“head of household”, what does that means? I need to put 1 more in this case?
I will spend more that $2.000 in obstetricians for my wife this year. I need to put 1 more in the letter F?
So, in summary, do I need to put 3.4 or 5?
Thank you and congratulations for your help.
admin
Jul 29, 2015
Hi Felipe,
Something to keep in mind when completing your W-4 form is that it only serves as an estimate to your employer for how much of your paycheck you are allowing to be withheld to cover taxes due to the IRS. If you prefer to have more take-home-pay each pay period in your paychecks, you will want to claim a higher amount of allowances on your W-4. This may cause you to owe the IRS come tax time. To avoid owing, you may want to claim a lower amount of allowances. This will allow for more to be withheld but will most likely lead to a refund from the IRS after filing.
That being said, in your situation, claiming two dependents and head of household with at least $2,000 of dependent care expenses, you will want to claim 3 or 4 allowances on your W-4 form. Adjust as necessary if you feel that too much or too little is being withheld from your paychecks.
Ben
Jul 6, 2015
Hello there. I am married, no kids. I’ve a new job and I think I made a mistake on my W4 form.
I make $110k per year. On my first paycheck, I received $5,006.41 for my first two weeks of work. My Net pay is $3,978.59.
$644 have been withold for Federal M-4 (does that mean that I am claiming for 4 allowances?), $310.40 for OASDI and $72.59 for Medicare. Not sure if this sounds correct or not.
Thanks for your help!
admin
Jul 6, 2015
Hi Ben,
Pay statements tend to overuse abbreviations to ensure that all of your information fits on one page so it can tend to get confusing. When you see FIT on your pay statement, it stands for “Federal Income Tax status” and the amount of exemptions you filed on your W-4 form. In your case, “M-4” stands for Married claiming 4 exemptions. If you believe this to be incorrect, your payroll/human resources department can update this immediately by issuing a new W-4 form for you to complete.
Zj
Jul 22, 2015
If I have one job, single, no kids can I still claim 2
admin
Jul 29, 2015
Hi ZJ,
Simply put, yes you can claim two.
Keep in mind that come time to file your taxes, you may owe the IRS a tax due amount. You will be responsible for honestly completing your tax return no matter what you claimed on your W-4. Your W-4 form only provides an estimate to your employer for what you are allowing to be withheld to cover taxes due to the IRS. If you claim a higher number of allowances now, then you will end up paying the bulk of your tax due after filing. If you claim fewer allowances now, then you will have more withheld from your paychecks throughout the year with the likelihood of a refund from the IRS.
daniel
Jul 23, 2015
I am married with two children living at home. My wife makes 75k. I make 70k. What should we claim on our W-4 forms?
admin
Jul 29, 2015
Hi Daniel,
You have a couple of options since you and your wife earn roughly the same income annually. I am assuming that you are claiming your two children as dependents on your tax return come time to file. With that in mind, you will most likely want to choose one of the following options:
1. You claim two allowances on your W-4 form; one for yourself and one for your child. Your wife claim two allowances on her W-4 form; one for herself and one for your other child.
2. Your wife claim the majority of your allowances on her W-4 form; let’s say three to cover herself and your two children. You claim one allowance to allow for more take home pay since you earn a bit less annually.
Although the above options are most common among families in your situation, these are not the only two. The W-4 form is used as an estimate for how much you are allowing to be withheld from your paychecks to cover taxes owed to the IRS. If you prefer to see more of your income up front in each paycheck and owe the IRS come tax time, then you have the ability to claim more allowances. On the other hand, if you prefer to overcompensate for taxes owed to the IRS and receive a refund come time to file taxes, you should claim less allowances. There is no right or wrong answer. The options I provided above will land you at the break even point of owing little to nothing to the IRS yet not receiving much of a refund either.
Ryan
Jul 26, 2015
I am single but my mom is my dependent an dI filed last year’s taxes as head of household and I’m also a full-time student. I just started a new job that pays 46,000 a year but I am still in my current job that pays 20,000 a year but that job will end in about two months. Currently I have 1 allowances on one job and another allowances on the new job. I don’t want to end up paying anything when tax season comes around , so should I put zero allowances? Or is two allowances in total okay?
admin
Jul 29, 2015
Hi Ryan,
Based on the information you have provided above, you should be able to claim two allowances and not owe the IRS if you plan on claiming your mother as a dependent come time to file. However, if you would like to play it safe, I suggest claiming one allowance at your new job and zero allowances at your other job (or vice versa). This may result in a larger refund but you won’t need to pay a tax due bill.
Eric
Jul 26, 2015
Hi! I need help with how many allowances to claim. I am single and have just started a new full time job. I am looking to keep my previous job, but reduce its hours to 3 per week. Any help with my withholding so that I gain a refund near $0 would be great.
Thank you!
admin
Aug 20, 2015
Hi Eric,
Seeing as you are single with no dependents and one source of income, you would benefit most financially from claiming one allowance on your W-4 form. This will allow enough taxes to be withheld from your paycheck to cover taxes due to the IRS without having to withhold the maximum amount.
Kristine
Aug 7, 2015
Hi, I am confused on how to fill out my W-4 form because I am single and have two adult children who live with me (18,19) that will most likely be filing this year. Do I still claim them as dependents, and will that hurt their return for them by giving them less on theirs.
admin
Aug 19, 2015
Hi Kristine,
In order to claim your children as qualifying dependents, they must be under 19 years old OR under 24 years old as a full time student.
Tiffany
Aug 13, 2015
Hi! I got a job that will start Sep 1st. My husband is self employed and we put a portion aside each month for taxes since he does not have withholding from his 1099. We are married, will file jointly and have 2 children to claim for 2015. He usually shows less than $20K in net income after expenses. Should I claim 0 or 4 on my W-4? I think id rather have the money now than later but I don’t want to put 4 and it be wrong? Help! 🙂
admin
Aug 24, 2015
Hi Tiffany,
If you claim four allowances on your W-4 form, you may owe come tax time but you will have less of your income withheld from your paychecks. If you choose this option, you would essentially just owe the IRS more after filing since it was not covered throughout the financial year. On the other hand, claiming zero allowances will presumably result in a refund issued to you from the IRS after filing for the year (based on the information you have provided above). Whichever choice you make, the IRS will be able to claim the taxes owed to them so you would not be ‘wrong’ with either decision. It mainly depends on your preference.
emani
Jan 31, 2016
Hi.
I’m a single, head of household, college student with 2 jobs. One pays around 40,000/year and the other less than 600 a year. Considering all of this, can I file 3 allowances? 1 for being single, 1 for being head of household & another for having 2 jobs (one of which paying less than $800/year)? Please help. I want to reach 0 at tax time & not owe, just want less taxes taken out.
admin
Mar 3, 2016
Hi Emani,
In a scenario like yours, I would suggest claiming two allowances. Since you prefer to have less taken out throughout the year, claiming three allowances may work better for you. Also, since you are a college student, you may want to look into credits that you qualify for. Some would include the Lifetime Learning Credit and the American Opportunity Credit. Both of which will lower your tax liability dollar for dollar if your qualify.
Toya
Feb 5, 2016
Hello. I usually file head of household, one dependent, I own my home, and have a full time job made about 50,000. On my full time job I withhold 2. This year, I took on a part time job as well for 6 months. I made about 4100 on that job and withheld 1. I am starting to wonder if I had enough taken out on my part time job. I don’t want to owe. I do have my student loan interest, personal property taxes, and mortgage interest. Could you give me some advice please?
admin
Mar 3, 2016
Hi Toya,
You should be alright with the amount of allowances you claimed for the year based on what you stated above. It is common for taxpayers with multiple jobs to claim the majority or all of their allowances on the highest paying job while claiming zero allowances at the remaining lower paying one(s). However, it sounds like you will have some tax benefits that you can take advantage of as well. Remember that credits that you qualify for will reduce your tax liability dollar for dollar.
Joe
Feb 10, 2016
I am single but pay almost 500 in child support. I do not claim either of my 2 kids. What should I claim so i do not have to pay the irs at the end of the year and still not get the maximum taken out of my checks.
Thanks
admin
Feb 22, 2016
Hi Joe,
Claiming zero allowances on your W-4 form will allow for the maximum amount of income to be withheld for taxes. That being said, I suggest claiming one allowance instead. This will all for you to have a bit more take home pay than if you were to claim zero.
Gavin
Feb 16, 2016
Hi there!
We File jointly, In 2015 I was employed FT with a W2, married with one child. My spouse works PT with a W2 and additional 1099 hours. I claimed one allowance in 2015, she claimed two. Overall spouse earns half the amount I earn.
When I completed my portion of our tax return including charitable donations the refund was very high, but once my spouse entered hers it shrank by 90%.
Should I be claiming 2 allowances really?
Thanks!
admin
Mar 3, 2016
Hi Gavin,
Filing a joint return can cause this to happen since the IRS bases your tax liability on the combination of both income amounts. The spouse earning the higher income will typically claim most or all of the allowances. For 2016, you would benefit more (tax-wise) if you claimed the majority of the allowances on your W-4 while your spouse claimed zero or one allowance.
Tera
Feb 26, 2016
I am single mother of 1, I own my home, make around $55,000/year and I only get paid once a month. When I file my taxes I file as Head of Household but I just looked at my paycheck and it is still Single with 5. Do I need to change to HH on my W4 and how many withholdings should I claim?
admin
Feb 26, 2016
Hi Tera,
Your W-4 is correctly completed. There is only the option to choose Married, Single or Married but withhold at higher single rate. Many taxpayers will claim an additional allowance on their W-4 if they plan to file their tax return as head of household. When you file your federal tax return (form 1040), you will have the option to choose head of household as your filing status.
T. Sheehan
Mar 6, 2016
I am single, no kids, and have two jobs. I contribute the max. amount to my traditional IRA but also contribute roughly 100.00 per month to a 403 acct. I was claiming one @ each job but I end up having to pay back 5k in tax for 2015. How can I modify my W4 to play in my favor for filing for 2016.
admin
Mar 23, 2016
Hi T. Sheehan,
Based on what you stated above, I am not sure how many allowances you were currently claiming on your W-4 but you may want to decrease the amount. The more allowances you claim, the less is withheld from your paychecks. This can cause taxpayers to have a tax bill after filing for the year.
T.Sheehan
Apr 23, 2016
Hi, I was claiming one but I changed it to “0”. Will that help? Thank you in advance.
admin
Apr 27, 2016
Hi Again T.Sheehan,
Updating your allowances to zero should help you out significantly with how much you owe come tax time. Claiming zero lets your employer withhold the maximum amount of income allowed to go toward taxes owed.
T. Sheehan
May 1, 2016
Thank you.
Brandon K.
Mar 14, 2016
Extremely helpful post, thank you.
admin
Mar 16, 2016
Hi Brandon,
I’m happy to hear that this blog post has helped you out! Be sure to come back with any of your future tax questions.
Rebecca
Mar 18, 2016
I am married, I am employed full time and my husband receives disability benefits. Our children are over 18. What exemptions should I claim?
admin
Mar 29, 2016
Hi Rebecca,
When completing your W-4 form, I suggest claiming one allowance for yourself and an additional allowance for each dependent you plan to claim on your tax return and/or any special circumstance that applies to you (ie: head of household filing status). I also want to touch on claiming dependent children since you mentioned that you children are over 18. You can claim a child dependent 19 years old and under and up to 24 years old if they are a full-time student.
Keisha
Mar 28, 2016
I am single and have 2 jobs. I have had to pay every year for the last 5 years. What do I claim to get the most taxes taken out during the year so I can actually get money back during tax time.
admin
Mar 29, 2016
Hi Keisha,
The more allowances you claim on your W-4 form, the less is withheld. The less allowances you claim, the more is withheld for taxes. You’ll receive a refund if too much is withheld. If you prefer to have the maximum amount withheld throughout the year, claiming zero allowances on your W-4 form is the best option.
Keisha
Mar 29, 2016
so what is causing me to have to pay every year if I am claiming zero on the w-4.
jhanbau
Apr 4, 2016
Hi
I’m confused with my w-4. I could use some help.
I am married, 1 child and my husband is currently not working. I will be filling HOH. What should I claim for Federal Allowances.
Also in the number of exemptions/allowances. I just want to make sure that next year filing season I won’t owe IRS. Thank you
admin
Apr 4, 2016
Hi Jhanbau,
With the W-4 Personal Allowances Worksheet (Page 1), you will calculate the maximum amount of allowances you can claim based on IRS rules. That being said, the IRS states that you can always claim less allowances so that more is withheld from your paychecks to cover taxes owed.
When deciding how many allowances you will claim, it is important to know that the more allowances you claim, the less is withheld from your taxes for your tax liability. The less allowances you claim, the more is withheld from your paychecks. If too little is withheld, then you will have a tax bill after filing for the year. If you have too much withheld, then you will be issued a refund.
Nomi
Apr 23, 2016
Hi. I am married and 2 children but my husband doesn’t work. I just got new job as a waitress and I received my pay check last month. My wage was $902 and tip $1020 but they took $260 for tax withholding. That’s how much they suppose to get? Because I need money through out the year so I really need to withheld less money and more on my paycheck. What should I do? How should I fill out my W4 form. Please help me
admin
Apr 27, 2016
Hi Nomi,
In order to receive more money in each paycheck throughout the year, you’ll want to increase your W-4 allowances being claimed. The less allowances you claim, the more is withheld from your income to go toward taxes owed to the IRS. If you claim zero allowances, then you are allowing your employer to withhold the maximum amount of income allowed. The amount of tax you owe does not change. The amount of allowances you claim just adjusts when you will pay it.
AJ
Apr 26, 2016
Hi, I am married and have no Kids. How many allowance should i claim or put on the W4 form ? also my wife is a International Student and is studying full time and doing Internship as of now. Please suggest me. Thank You in advance.
admin
May 9, 2016
Hi AJ,
This will depend on specific factors of your tax situation such as whether or not you plan to file a joint return or separately. Typically, taxpayers will claim an allowance for themselves and an additional allowance for each dependent they plan to claim on their tax return. Keep in mind that the more allowances you claim, the less is withheld from your paychecks. If you claim less allowances, more will be withheld from your income to cover taxes owed when you file so that you don’t get stuck with a large tax bill.
Jennifer Reed
Apr 29, 2016
Good morning, I am a mother of 3 children, single and head of house hold. They are taking so much out of my paychecks I barely have enough. How can I get more instead of at the end of year?
admin
May 2, 2016
Hi Jennifer,
You’ll want to update your W-4 form so that you are claiming more allowances than you are currently. For example, if you are claiming two allowances now, try increasing that to claim three. The more allowances you claim, the less is withheld from your paychecks toward taxes owed. Just be aware that the if too little is withheld for taxes, you could end up owing after filing. As claiming Head of Household and three dependents, you are most likely not claiming enough and can update your W-4 to reflect that without any serious repercussions.
Jeannette C.
May 3, 2016
Both husband and I work and have 3 kids. We live in California. We have filed 3 dependents for state and federal. However, we owe money back this year. Booo!!! What can we do to help us minimize how much we owe to federal?? How many dependents should each of us claim? Thanks!
admin
May 31, 2016
Hi Jeannette,
When it comes to your W-4 form, the more allowances you claim, the less tax is withheld. If you want to have a higher refund after filing, then claim less allowances so that more income is withheld from your paychecks throughout the year. Claiming zero allowances on your W-4 form allows your employer to withhold the maximum amount of income for taxes. This tends to result in a tax refund for most. You can also minimize your tax due when preparing your tax return for the year. Take a look at credits and deductions that may apply to you. Credits will directly reduce your tax due while deductions will reduce your adjusted gross income.
D’Angelo
May 21, 2016
I have 2 questions:
Graduating in June and getting a summer job. My sister, (who financially supported me all year, and I live with her) is going to claim me as her dependent when she files her taxes. She’s single and is going to gross just under 40k and I’ll make a maximum of 10k. What boxes do I check on the W-4 and do I have to file my own taxes next year? I’ve never filed before. This will be my first real job!
admin
Jun 7, 2016
Hi D’Angelo,
I suggest taking a look at the IRS website tool for whether or not you will need to file a tax return. This will take you about 10 minutes to complete and will provide you with a more accurate answer than I can solely based on this information left in your comment above. To answer your other question, typically those in a similar situation as yours will claim zero or one allowances on their W-4. You’re better off using the IRS website tool and THEN completing the Personal Allowances Worksheet on page 1 of your W-4 form.
Tiani
Jun 10, 2016
Hi, Im married with 2 kids. My husband works fulltime and i work part time. How many allowances should I claim?
admin
Jun 21, 2016
Hi Tiani,
There are a few ways to go about completing your W-4 based on your current tax situation described above. You’ll first need to decide whether or not you’re filing a joint tax return. This tends to be the most beneficial for couples. If you are, it is common for the spouse who earns the higher income to claim most or all of the allowances on their W-4 while the lower earning spouse claims zero or one allowance.
messie
Jun 29, 2016
Hi,my pt job is not withholding taxes payroll says because I dont make enough,roughly I make $100-150 a week,paid bi-weekly am claiming single,head of household 2 federal 2 state,I have 3 kids please help what should I be claiming,I don’t wont to owe the irs the end of the year.
admin
Jul 14, 2016
Hi Messie,
There is no set income that the you must earn to have taxes withheld from your paychecks. Federal income tax is based on an employee’s filing status, number of allowances/exemptions, earnings, and the IRS withholding tax tables. These factors, in conjunction, are considered when income is withheld for taxes.
Talesha Wade
Aug 12, 2016
Hello,
I am 28 years old. I’m single and I have two jobs. One full time and one PT. I claim 2 allowances for my full time job and 0 for my part time. I file single on my taxes. Is this correct or do I need to change it to 1 instead of 2?
admin
Sep 9, 2016
Hi Talesha,
This is typically how taxpayers in your situation complete their W-4 form. However, if you feel that too little or too much is being withheld from your paychecks, you can update your W-4 form at any point and it will go into effect immediately with your employer’s payroll department.
John
Aug 23, 2016
Hi,
I am married, wife is a stay at home mom, and I have 5 children. I only have one job, and my income is $90,500 (including bonus). How many allowances should I be taking on my W-4?
admin
Aug 29, 2016
Hi John,
Based on what you have stated above, I suggest claiming one for yourself, one for your spouse (since she is not working) and an additional allowance for each dependent you will claim on your tax return.
Coby
Aug 25, 2016
Hi I have 3 kids and make about 65,000 a year combined with my wife are we eligible for the child tax credit? How many should we both claim? Should we both claim 3? Then claim 4 on our taxes.
admin
Aug 26, 2016
Hi Coby,
Whether or not you are eligible to claim the credit will depend on the children you are claiming. There are 6 tests that must be met when claiming the credit:
1. The child must be under the age of 17 at the close of the tax year in which you claim the credit.
2. The child must be your own child, a stepchild, or a foster child placed with you by a court or authorized agency.
3. The child cannot have provided more than half of his or her own financial support during the tax year.
4. The child must be claimed as a dependent on your tax return.
5. The child must be a U.S. citizen, a national or a U.S. resident alien.
6. The child must have lived with you for more than half the tax year for which you claimed the credit.
Once you know which children qualify, you can complete your W-4 accordingly. Typically, the spouse earning the higher income will claim the majority of allowances which tends to be the most financially beneficial. If you both earn about the same, then you may want to split the allowances evenly. I do not recommend each claiming 3 allowances. If you choose to claim 3 allowances in total, then you can split among you both.
Cody
Sep 7, 2016
Hi
Started a new job, was in a previous for so long that I need help with my tax allowances. I’m married with 2 kids, one in daycare and the other in elementary school. Between myself and wife we have 3 jobs and we probably make combined just over 100k a year. How many allowances should I have in my paycheck. I currently have 16 allowances. Is this too much? Thanks in advance
admin
Oct 14, 2016
Hi Cody,
Technically, the IRS won’t stop you from claiming as many allowances as you see fitting to your tax situation. That being said, the more allowances you claim, the less is withheld from your paychecks for tax owed to the IRS. If too little is withheld throughout the year, than you will be responsible for paying the IRS after filing your tax return for the year. Sixteen allowances may lead you to a tax liability since very little is being withheld from your paychecks. Ideally, you want your W-4 form to reflect how you plan to fill out your tax return. This is how taxpayers will end up breaking even without having a tax liability OR a tax refund. I suggest completing the Personal Allowances worksheet on page 1 of your W-4. Based on your situation described above, you’ll most likely want to complete the Multiple Earners worksheet on page 2 as well.
adam
Sep 13, 2016
hello,
im married and my wife doesn’t work and im filling the w-4 form , i need the higher paycheck with less witholding? how many allowance should i claim without any penalities at the end of year,
admin
Sep 16, 2016
Hi Adam,
When it comes to your W-4 form, you have a bit of leeway in choosing how many allowances you will claim. Ideally, it should reflect how you plan to complete your tax return at the end of the financial year, but it doesn’t need to be exact. If you want to know the highest you can claim on your W-4 without possible penalty, then I would suggest following the Personal Allowance Worksheet exactly. Just keep in mind that you might end up owing the IRS after filing for the year. The more allowances you claim on your W-4 form, the less is withheld from your paychecks. The less allowances you claim on your W-4, the more is withheld. If too little is withheld throughout the year, then you will end up owing the IRS. If too much is withheld, then you will be issued a refund.
Annie and Jason
Oct 27, 2016
We are NOT married. J works full time and supports our household. I am an unemployed stay at home mom to our (almost 1yr old son). I also have a son from my first marriage and his father and I have agreed that I will always claim him as a dependent. I also receive child support directly from my son’s father.
As we are preparing to think about how to file, I want to be sure we are correct as well as filing to get the most out of tax laws.
J and I will file separately; I as single and he as head of household. J will claim our infant son as a dependent. I will claim my older son as my dependent.
Is this correct? And will this help us in getting the most out of the current tax laws? Also, I have been concerned that J’s W4 is not properly filed. How should it be?
Annie and Jason
Oct 27, 2016
Additionally, if and when we do marry, can J claim both me as well as my older son as dependents? meaning we file married filing jointly, J as HOH, with myself, our son and my son as dependents.
admin
Nov 18, 2016
Hi Again Annie and Jason,
When you’re married and file your tax return, you will only be able to choose one filing status from the list. You mentioned that Jason would choose head of household but also that you would be filing a joint return. If you are filing a joint return, then your filing status would be Married Filing Jointly. This actually works out better than one of you filing as HOH because you receive more tax benefits when filing a joint return.
admin
Nov 18, 2016
Hi Annie and Jason,
Based on what you have stated about your tax situation currently, you are correct in your plan to file your return for the year. This way would allow you to take advantage of the bulk of tax benefits available to you. Also, I suggest looking into whether or not you qualify for the Child Tax Credit as well. I have another article about it HERE that you can check out. It states that it is written for 2014, however, rates hold true for the current year as well.
When completing his W-4, Jason can follow along with the Personal Allowances Worksheet on the W-4 form but he is not required to do so. The IRS provides this as a guide, however here’s how it works. The more allowances claimed on your W-4, the less income is withheld from your paychecks throughout the year. This adds up to more take home pay but could result in owing the IRS is too little is withheld. On the flip side, if he claims less allowances, then more income will be withheld for tax throughout the year. This means less take home pay but a possible IRS refund if too much was withheld throughout the year. It is important to realize that the same amount of tax is being paid to the IRS. Your W-4 just determines when you pay it; throughout the year or after filing your return.
marcus
Oct 28, 2016
Hello,
I am single and applying for a second part-time job. On the W-4 form for the second one, do I need to fill out the multiple job section even if the total income is less than $40,000? Also How man claims can I do on the second w-4 form? thanks.
admin
Oct 31, 2016
Hi Marcus,
It is only necessary to use the page 2 worksheets of the W-4 form if your total income exceeds $50,000. Typically, those in your tax situation would claim one at the higher paying job and zero at the lower paying job. If you would prefer more take-home pay, then claim one allowance at each job.
chris
Oct 28, 2016
I am Married with two kids. My wife does not work. I work full time. What do I put for withholding allowance ?
admin
Oct 31, 2016
Hi Chris,
Most taxpayers in similar tax situations will claim four allowances. This works out to be two allowances if you are the only spouse earning an income and an additional allowance for each dependent. Keep in mind that you may want to claim additional allowances if you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit.
Sarah
Nov 30, 2016
I am a single mom that works one job. My son is 18 and in the military. What should I be claiming? I am currently claiming 4 for both Federal and State and just want to make sure this is correct.
admin
Dec 7, 2016
Hi Sarah,
You’ll first need to determine if your son still qualifies as a dependent for tax purposes. If he is employed and contributes more than one half to his own support or made more than a certain amount of income for the tax year, then he should not be claimed as a dependent. Additionally, he would have had to live with you for more than one half the tax year to qualify as your dependent.
Once you determine whether or not he is your dependent for tax purposes, you can claim allowances on your W-4. There is no ‘correct’ amount that you should claim. It is more based on your situation for the year. You see, the more allowances you claim on your W-4, the less is withheld from your paychecks. The less allowances you claim on your W-4, the more is withheld from your paychecks. If you have too much withheld throughout the year, you will be issued a tax refund. If you have too little withheld, then you will owe the IRS after filing for the year. Your W-4 only determines when you will pay the IRS (throughout the year VS. after filing). It does not determine how much you will pay as this amount remains the same.
cam
Dec 10, 2016
hi i need help completing the W4 form. What do you put on LIne G. I’m married and have 1 child (2months) and I work full time and my husband work part time. What do you put on LIne G? please let me know thank you very much
admin
Dec 12, 2016
Hi Cam,
On Line G, you will indicate whether or not you qualify for the Child Tax Credit.
According to the IRS, a qualifying child for purposes of the child tax credit is a child who:
– Is your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild, niece, or nephew),
– Was under age 17 at the end of the year,
– Did not provide over half of his or her own support for the year,
– Lived with you for more than half of the year,
– Is claimed as a dependent on your return,
– Does not file a joint return for the year (or files it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid), and
– Was a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. resident alien. For more information, see Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. If the child was adopted, see Adopted child , later.
Jessica
Jan 2, 2017
Hi. I got married last year and I work full time with two children. My husband makes more then me and. I’m wondering if I would get back more if I filed married filing jointly?
admin
Jan 5, 2017
Hi Jessica,
Congratulations on tying the knot!
It is typically more beneficial to file a joint tax return with your spouse. There are more tax benefits available to joint filers; ultimately resulting in a higher refund. You can take a look at our tax calculator to see what you would receive if you did file joint vs separate.
adam
Jan 9, 2017
Hi, how are you doing
My case, I’m Graduate student here in USA with my wife (she is USA citizen), and I claimed here as dependent in my W-4 form, but she is not working she was live aboard and she is here right now, can she apply for tax return in this April ? and because me and here in my W-4 form, they deduct less from me because of more allowance, so we will get more money or less money, and what about her citizenship, its an advantage or disadvantage?? Thanks
Troy
Jan 10, 2017
Hi,
I make $85-120k a year. I’m married but my wife does not work. We have 2 kids and own a home. Using the IRS withholding calculator, it said I should claim 8 allowances to just about break even. I was curious if this sounds right? I currently claim single and 0, but we’ve decided to pay off our snowball-debt instead of receiving a large return like we’ve been for the last few years and take jabs at the debt throughout the year instead of single blows. Can please provide some advice?
Thanks!
admin
May 8, 2017
Hello Troy,
Although claiming eight allowances seems high, it is possible due to special circumstances such as marriage, purchasing a home or a variety of life changes. However, with more allowances you claim, the smaller amount of taxes your employer will withhold. If too little is withheld, which is known as under-withholding, you may receive a large tax liability when filing. When claiming 0, which is allowing your employer to withhold the maximum taxes of your paycheck, you will most likely have a federal refund. Filling out your W-4 is entirely up to your decision and to accurately display your allowances, follow the directions on your W-4 form.
Deneen
Jan 30, 2017
I file married jointly, however I am the full time worker and I have 2 children ages 15 and 19 (both high school students). I own my home. I do like a refund end of year. How should I do my W4 form as far as how many [allowances] I put down? Right now, I think I have 4.
admin
Apr 3, 2017
The IRS has a tool to help you determine how many allowances you should claim on your W-4 Form. Simply click
here to use the IRS withholding
calculator.
Renee
Jan 31, 2017
I am married and have no children. I claim 0 and my husband claims 2. My income before taxes is 47,000 (I have two jobs but I only made 893 in my second job) and my husband’s income before taxes is 72,000. Will we owe taxes? Would it be better for each of us to claim 1?
admin
Apr 3, 2017
You can use the IRS withholding calculator to help you determine how many allowances you should claim on your W-4 Form. Click
here to try the IRS withholding calculator.
Scott
Feb 15, 2017
Hello, I am married and have two children 20 &18, they are both in college full-time. My wife and I are both employed. Could you please tell me how many dependents I should claim.
admin
Apr 3, 2017
Depending on your tax situation you may benefit most by filing a joint return with your spouse and claiming both dependents on your return.
Ashley
Feb 20, 2017
Hi – I am married with one child. We filed jointly. Both my husband and I work full time. He makes about $2500 more per year than I do. What should we each be claiming on our w-4?
admin
Apr 3, 2017
The IRS has a tool to help you determine how many allowances you should claim on your W-4 Form. Simply click
here to try the IRS withholding
calculator.
tj
Mar 21, 2017
I’m married, work a full time job, have one kid with another due in a couple months and my wife does not work. I’m curious as to how many allowances I should claim?
admin
Apr 3, 2017
The IRS has a tool to help you determine how many allowances you should claim on your W-4 Form. Simply click here to try the IRS withholding calculator.
Gabriela
Mar 24, 2017
Hi,
I remarried, i have two children one 18, but about to enter college. My daughter is 10. My husband is an non permanent resident. Im a USA citizen. How should i claim my allowences. And on my w4 line 4, what should i check. Single, married?
admin
Mar 29, 2017
Since you have remarried, your filing status should be married. You can use the IRS Withholding Calculator to determine your allowances for your W4 form. Our blog article may also assist you with arriving at your W-4 allowances
Kelly
Mar 30, 2017
I am married, but my husband and I are separated and living in different states. We have a 15 year old son together and he pays child support, since I am the custodial parent. (Although he hasnt paid and is behind in nearly $1000.)
I dont know if he currently works.
I do have to check “married” on the Personal Allowance sheet and if anything changes, I can modify that. Correct? I start working, this year, on April 3rd.
Also, how many allowances should I claim if I want to have too little taken out of my paychecks, and yet want an income tax return at the end of the year and not pay taxes. (I will be making $10.50 an hour, full time, and only $27,500 a year in gross.)
On the Personal Allowance Worksheet for B and C, what do I put specifically?
Note: If we are still married by the end of this year, we will be filing as “married filing separately”, correct?
admin
Apr 3, 2017
You can utilize a the IRS Withholding Calculator tool to help you determine your allowances for your W-4 Form. To try this tool click here.
Angelina Lang
Apr 19, 2017
i am a single mother with one child and one job how many allowances do i claim ?
admin
May 10, 2017
It would be best for you to contact payroll and discuss with them what would be the best number of allowances you should claim. The general rule of thumb is that the more you claim, the lower your taxes, but it may put you within a tax liability when you end up filing your return.
Manuel
Apr 26, 2017
Hi,
I have 2 jobs and if I put 0 allowances on both of my w4 forms will that help me not owing taxes? I don’t need to use the two earners since I don’t make over 50,000, right?
Manuel
Apr 26, 2017
Also I am single no kids
admin
May 11, 2017
Hello Manuel,
Please keep in mind that the less allowances, the more tax withheld on each paycheck. You may contact your Payroll Department for more advice on how to fill out W-4 forms.
Britin
Apr 26, 2017
Hello I am a stay at home momma of 3 children, there for my husband is our sole provider. He works full time and makes about $70k per year. Currently his pay check is with holding 2 allowances. We get a nice return each year, but I feel there is way too much taxes withheld from his check each week. I feel he should have at least 3 allowances on his W4 but I do not want it to result in us paying taxes at the end of the year. Help what should he claim?
admin
May 10, 2017
Speaking with payroll will better inform you on the best number of allowances you should claim on your W-4. Typically you would like at the end of the year, to owe a small amount or receive a small refund. That way you can utilize most of your money earned throughout the year rather than having it sit until next year.
Anthony
Apr 27, 2017
I am single, I live with my domestic partner, I am 22 years old, recently moved on my own from my parents and I im a full time university student and full time employee. What do I put on the Personal Allowances Worksheet or whats the total number of allowances, can my parents still claim me as dependent ? Thank you in advance.
admin
May 16, 2017
If you have earned more than $6,300, your parents cannot claim you as a dependent. You will need to file your own individual income tax return. When filling out your W-4, if your filing status is single, do not have kids and have one job, you should probably claim one. This means, you’ll probably receive a refund when filing your taxes and won’t have the maximum amount taken out from your paycheck. You could claim zero, which is having the maximum tax withheld from your paycheck which most likely will give you a refund at the end of the tax year.
manas
May 24, 2017
My wife and I work full-time. We had a baby recently and my wife is on the 12 week leave from work.
How many allowances to claim in this situation?
admin
May 24, 2017
Hello Manas,
We advise you to follow the instructions on your W-4 form to determine the number of your allowances. Keep in mind that the more allowances you claim, the less tax is being withheld from your paycheck which could lead to a tax liability at the end of the tax year. The IRS withholding calculator is an efficient way in finding out how many allowances you should claim.
admin
May 24, 2017
Claiming an extra dependent is expected to cut your tax bill. This means you can cut back on tax withholding from your paycheck. It is best to file a new W-4 form with your employer to claim an additional withholding “allowance.” Please contact your payroll and discuss your new tax situation with them and they will determine the best number of allowances you should claim.
Mariah
May 27, 2017
Hello,
I am going to be 20 yo. I am a FT student in a 18-21 year program and claimed as a dependent. I work 36 hours weekly during the school year, up from 14-16, and will be working a summer job too about 25-30 hours for six weeks. I used to put exempt when I worked less hours but now that I am working more hours and taking on a second job for six weeks I think I should claim something (like 1) so I don’t have to pay taxes at the end of the year. Help.
admin
May 30, 2017
Hello Mariah,
Yes, the lower the allowances, the more taxes is withheld. However I would recommend following the instructions on the W-4 form.
Micheal
Jun 1, 2017
Hello
I recently separated x the military after 10 years so you could imagine the stress of landing a new job and filling out this information when I relied so heavily on the military for this information.
I am married with 5 children x under the age of 13. My wife does not work. she recently just graduated from school and should be working in the next few months. what should I be claiming? what i’m tracking from the thread is (claim 0 or close to 0) if I want a refund. x Which that is what I want, but they are killing me in tax deductions! I make 53K a year I get paid twice a month. I want a tax refund but as the single bread winner I cannot afford to have my check constantly chopped n screwed each month. what should I claim to lessen the blow of Tax deductions but still possible get a refund at the end of the year. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
V/R
Mike
admin
Jun 1, 2017
It would be best for you to contact payroll and discuss with them what would be the best number of allowances to claim. Generally, the more you claim, the lower your taxes, but this may put you within a tax liability when you file your return. Consulting with payroll will better inform you on the optimal number of allowances you should claim on your W-4. Typically you would like at the end of the year, to owe a small amount or receive a small refund. That way you can utilize most of your money earned throughout the year rather than having it sit until next year.
Diana
Jun 21, 2017
Married filing jointly. 3 children under 18.Starting new job. Everything I’ve used says claim 5 allowances. Too many?
admin
Jun 22, 2017
Claiming up to 5 allowances for your situation sounds about right, as claiming any fewer may result in your income to be withheld at a higher rate, and any higher may result in a tax liability. When you are filing your return for next year, you’ll have more of a better idea as to whether or not you should lessen or increase the number of allowances you should claim. If you are still rather unsure, I would advise that you speak to your payroll department.
Laura Whang
Jul 1, 2017
My husband and I both work and have a baby. How many allowances should we claim on our W4s and how do we use the Child Tax credit?
admin
Jul 3, 2017
According to the instructions on the W-4, you can claim 4-5 allowances as this pertains to the situation that you have outlined. As you will only be claiming one child, you will be claiming the 2 allowances in the child tax credit section. You can also use the IRS Withholding Calculator Tool to assist you in this matter as well or speak with your payroll department.
easy ways to roll a joint
Aug 20, 2017
Wow, amazing blog format! How lengthy have you been blogging for?
you make blogging glance easy. The overall look of your web site is
fantastic, as smartly as the content!
admin
Aug 22, 2017
Thank you for your awesome reviews. We are happy that you find our blog easy, user-friendly and resourceful.
sydney
Sep 6, 2017
I’m newly married and just got a part time job. My husband is in the Navy, how many allowances should i claim? should we file joint or separate tax returns?
admin
Sep 7, 2017
Ideally, if you are married with no kids and both you and your spouse are employed, you can claim 0 and you will owe less money tax time and may get a decent refund. You can each choose to claim 1 and you may also get a small refund back when filing or you can claim 2 if only your spouse worked for most of the year. Speaking with payroll will better inform you on the best number of allowances you should claim on your W-4. Typically you would like at the end of the year, to owe a small amount or receive a small refund.
Dee
Nov 3, 2017
I have 2 jobs a full time and a part time I have 2 kids. How many should allowances should I claim to get money back during tax time
admin
Nov 6, 2017
From the situation that you have outlined, you may qualify to claim 3-4 allowances on your W-4. Please note that the more allowances that you claim, the fewer taxes get withheld from the income that you earn. If you are unsure of how many allowances to claim, it’s safer to claim fewer allowances.
April
Nov 8, 2017
Hello I’m single head of household full time job with three kids I know its to late, but I really need to know how many allowances do I claim because the W4 form has new items on it for you to put 1 or 2 by it so its making my allowances very high I’m up to 7.
admin
Nov 16, 2017
Typically, you can claim an allowance for each exemption you expect to have. If you claim too many allowances, your employer may not withhold enough taxes and you may have a tax liability. Contact your Payroll Department for advice.
TB
Nov 10, 2017
My husband and I both file jointly. We both make roughly the same annual income at about 65,000. I also have a 1099 that I receive for a direct sales company. This is not taxed. We do not have any children. What is the best way to file?
admin
Nov 14, 2017
According to the W-4 instructions and the situation that you have outlined, your allowance claims would only amount to two. However, please also use the IRS withholding calculator to help you determine the maximum amount of allowances that you qualify for.
Alice
Nov 13, 2017
I am recently married with 1kid. I have 2jobs and my husband has only worked since September this year about 15hours a week. I am planning on claiming them both on my taxes… 1. should I file single or married. 2. How many should I claim to get most money back?
admin
Nov 14, 2017
You may qualify to claim around 3-4 allowances for your family situation, but, the IRS also provides a tool for you to utilize for you to determine the maximum amount of allowances you can claim.
Catherine
Dec 29, 2017
I’m single, head of household and 2 kids.
Line H came out to “8”.
Line 7 I put exempt.
I got my check and my FED WITHHOLDING say’s 0.
Everything else was deducted.
Federal allowance says 8 and state allowance say 2.
Will I end up owing anything? Did I fill out my W-4 correctly?
admin
Jan 3, 2018
The IRS has a tool to help you determine how many allowances you should claim on your W-4 Form. Simply click here to use the IRS Withholding Calculator.
Nicole
Jan 9, 2018
I’m single two kids, however my oldest gets claimed on her fathers taxes every other year. Because of that I normally put two exemptions. Should i change it every year between two and three or go with three. I’ve gotten a refund every year but I’m afraid of owing taxes so I’m cautious. Having more in my paycheck if I can would be great especially now that I bought my own place.
admin
Jan 11, 2018
The IRS has a tool to help you determine how many allowances you should claim on your W-4 Form. Simply clickhere to use the IRS Withholding Calculator.
alex
Jan 29, 2018
I am married and have a baby. i want to get moretax return in april. Only I work,and total income less than 70k.
and second question should I fill out 2nd pages?
Clarissa
Feb 9, 2018
My boyfriend and I live together with our daughter who is 3 months old. Can we both calim her as an allowance on our W4 ‘s or should only one of us?
Jack
Feb 26, 2018
Hello. I’m married with 3 kids, married filing separately. Wife works part time. I claim 1allowance now. Should I increase this? Every year I end up owing taxes, but with new Tax rules, was hoping for some insight. Thanks
Sue
Mar 5, 2018
Hi, I’m married with no children both of us work, we filed 0 for deductions and we owed 2500. Should we file with 1 allowance each to avoid paying next year?
Steve
May 2, 2018
Hi, I am married and I work a full-time job and my wife is self employed. How many allowances should I claim?
Kenya Gordon
Jun 15, 2018
I am married, but filing seperate. I have a total of four children. My husband will claim two of them and I will claim two of them. What exactly do i fill in on my w4? we live seperatly.
Ms.Dessu
Jul 3, 2018
What’s up, after reading this awesome piece
of writing i am as well delighted to share my know-how here with colleagues.
Katherine
Aug 1, 2018
Hello, I’m single , will be filing head of household and have two kids and one on the way due to be born in September. Can I put 1 allowance ?