How to Fill Out a Two-Earner W4
The Internal Revenue Service W4 form is used to certify to the employer the number of exemptions claimed by the employee. The government-issued form includes a Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet on the second page that is used to calculate the number of exemptions for any situation including families with two wage earners. The lower portion of the form, the Withholding Allowance Certificate, is furnished to the employer for his records, while the rest of the form is retained by the employee.
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Instructions
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1
Obtain a W-4 form from your employer or at IRS.gov. Fill out the Personal Allowances Worksheet on the front of the W-4 form, working to step H. The number on step H is carried onto the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet on page two of the form if the employee has more than one job; or is married and both spouses work and have a combined income of at least $32,000.
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2
Transfer the answer from step H on the Personal Allowances Worksheet to the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs worksheet.
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3
Estimate the annual wages for the lowest-paying job if the single employee works multiple jobs, or the annual wages of the lower-paid spouse. Continue to fill out the form through step 6.
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4
Estimate the highest-paying job for employees holding multiple jobs or the wages paid the higher-paid spouse. Continue to fill out the form through step 9.
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5
Enter the result of Step 3 as the number of exemptions claimed on line 5 of the W-4 form. Enter the results of Step 4 as the additional amount to be withheld on line 6 of the W-4.
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Tips & Warnings
According to the IRS, the withholding for a two-wage-earner family will be most accurate if the number of exemptions and the amount of additional withholding determined by the form is applied to the highest-paying job, with the lower-earning spouse claiming zero allowances.
Anyone with income of more than $950 per year must fill out the W-4 and enter the number of exemptions she is claiming. Anyone exempt from withholding is required to fill out and sign the form stating he is exempt from withholding.
