How to Fill Out a W-4 Form

Fill out a W-4 form to determine tax withholding.

Whenever you start a new job or want to change the amount of income tax taken out of each paycheck, you'll need to fill out a W-4 form to determine the withholding amount. Calculating the figure correctly ensures you won't owe money at the end of the tax year or overpay your taxes each month. Use the following steps to fill out a W-4 form to have the proper amount of taxes withheld from your check.

Instructions

1. Get a W-4 form from your employer or download a copy of the tax form from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website. If you download your own form, you can either fill it out by hand after printing or fill out a W-4 form in PDF format and print the completed version.

2. Determine the number of allowances you'll claim when you fill out a W-4 form. The more you claim, the less your employer will deduct from your check. Although you'll typically claim one allowance for yourself, one for your spouse and one for each child, you may want to adjust the amount if you have a second job that isn't subject to income tax withholding, for example. A Personal Allowance Worksheet included on the W-4 form will help you determine the number of allowances.

3. Fill out the W-4 form with your personal information, including your name, social security number, address, marital status and whether or not your last name varies from the one listed on your social security card.

4. Enter the number of allowances you're claiming on the tax form and any additional funds you'd like withheld from your paychecks. You can also claim an exception from tax withholding if you had no tax liability for the current and past tax years.

5. Complete the additional Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet when you fill out a W-4 form if you plan to itemize deductions on your income tax return. You'll most likely itemize if you've got adjustments like mortgage interest, alimony payments, IRA contributions or charitable contributions.

6. Use the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet when you fill out a W-4 form if you have a second job or if your spouse also has a job. This section helps you recalculate the number of allowances to ensure you withhold enough to cover the additional income. If you claim extra allowances on your W-4 to account for your spouse's income, for example, be sure your spouse claims zero when filling out that W-4 form.

7. Be sure to sign and date the form before giving it to your employer. They'll ensure you've filled out the W-4 form completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult with a financial planner or a tax attorney if you're having trouble determining the amount of W-4 withholding you should claim or if you're unclear about a possible exemption from tax withholding. Some websites, like that of the Internal Revenue Service, also provide online tax withholding calculators to assist when you fill out a W-4 form.

• Consider changing number of allowances you claim on the W-4 tax form for the following year if you owed a large amount on your income taxes or got a hefty federal tax refund.