Do You Have to Claim Married on a W-4?
The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, provides W-4 forms for employers to obtain uniform instructions from employees for withholding taxes. The taxpayer completes the form with the number of allowances he chooses to claim, and can include an additional amount for extra withholding each pay period. The single person’s tax withholding is greater than withholding for a married individual. The Form W-4 allows a married person to request withholding at the single rate.
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Worksheets
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The Form W-4 has numerous worksheets to assist you in determining the number of allowances to claim. The number of allowances does not have to be the same as the number of dependents you claim on your individual tax return. Married couples have many variables, including different income amounts and childcare. Some married couples determine the total number of allowances and decide how to split the allowances between them. The IRS requires that you use a reasonable method to arrive at your allowances.
Completing Form W-4
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IRS Form W-4 requires your name, address and Social Security number. Section 3 has three choices for your marital status. The first box is for a single taxpayer, the second is for a married taxpayer. The third box is for married individuals who want taxes withheld at the higher single rate. This is the appropriate box if you want to claim “single” although you are married. If you are legally separated or if your spouse is a nonresident alien, “single” is also the appropriate box.
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Changing Form W-4
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You don’t have to change employers to change your Form W-4. Ask for a blank form from the accounting department at your work or obtain a blank form from the IRS website. Study the worksheets and determine a reasonable number of allowances for your withholding. If your employer did not withhold sufficient taxes last year, you may decrease your allowances or use Line 6 on Form W-4 to add an amount for withholding. If you get a large refund, you may choose to increase your allowances for less withholding. The IRS can audit Form W-4 and issue a lock-in letter restricting your allowances if your allowances are not reasonable.
Replacing the Form
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Once you give the new Form W-4 to your employer, that form replaces the previous one. The employer has until the first payday after 30 days lapse to implement the new withholding amount. Don’t expect the new withholding to show on your next paycheck, but your employer should apply the new withholding rate within 60 days.
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