03/06/2024
‼️ATTENTION TAXPAYERS‼️
Here is how to correctly fill out your W4! Please please please stop going exempt all year!
Steps to filing out the W-4
Step 1: Your filing status. You would enter Single/Married Filing Separately or Married Joint. If you would like a higher rate of taxes taken out, you could check the Single/MFS box even if you are married. I do not recommend checking the Head of Household as you may be under-withheld.
Step 2: Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works. You would check the box in 2c if there is another job on your return besides the one for which you are currently filling out the W-4. You would also check this box if you have a spouse with a job, investment income or you are owing at the end of the year even with your one job. This checkbox brings the withholdings back to the pre-2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts withholding tables when the withholding was higher. I recommend checking this box.
Step 3: Dependents. If you put 0 in this box the maximum is withheld & you are more likely to have a refund next year.
Step 4: Other Items. Putting 0 in 4a and 4b also withholds more to increase the likelihood of a refund. 4c is for extra withholding, a flat amount to take out of each paycheck. If you are already doing the above steps and still owing money, it would be a good idea to put an extra amount in this box that you would like withheld each payday.
If you are married, it would be a good idea to revisit your spouse's withholdings as well.
Overall I provide my clients with free tax planning and coaching throughout the year! So this May let’s chat about your goals for next year, whether it’s how to keep you out of the red or how to grow your return!