Form W-4 (2024)

Employee's Withholding Certificate

Purpose of Form W-4

Complete this form so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay. Give the completed form to your employer

If too little is withheld, you will generally owe tax when you file your tax return and may owe a penalty. If too much is withheld, you will generally be due a refund.

Complete a new Form W-4 when changes to your personal or financial situation would change the entries on the form.

For more information on withholding and when you must furnish a new Form W-4, see Pub. 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax

FAQs

Frequenty asked questions

What is Form W-4?

Form W-4 is an Employee's Withholding Certificate. It is used by employees to tell their employer how much tax to withhold from their paycheck.

Why do I need to fill out Form W-4?

You need to fill out Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay.

What happens if I don't fill out Form W-4?

If you don't fill out Form W-4, your employer will withhold taxes based on the information you provided on your most recent Form W-4.

When should I update my Form W-4?

You should update your Form W-4 when your personal or financial situation changes. Such changes may include getting married, having a child, or buying a home.

My tax situation is simple. Do I have to complete all of the steps?

No. The form is divided into 5 steps. The only two steps required for all employees are Step 1, where you enter personal information like your name and filing status, and Step 5, where you sign the form. Complete Steps 2 - 4 only if they apply to you. Doing so will make your withholding more accurately match your liability.

When should I increase my withholding?

You should generally increase your withholding if:
you hold more than one job at a time or you and your spouse both have jobs (Step 2) or you have income from sources other than jobs or self-employment that is not subject to withholding (Step 4(a)).
If you do not make adjustments to your withholding for these situations, you will very likely owe additional tax when filing your tax return, and you may owe penalties. For income from sources other than jobs, you can pay estimated tax instead of having extra withholding.

When should I decrease my withholding?

You should generally decrease your withholding if:
you are eligible for income tax credits such as the child tax credit or credit for other dependents (Step 3) or you are eligible for deductions other than the standard deduction, such as itemized deductions, the deduction for IRA contributions, or the deduction for student loan interest (Step 4(b)).

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