The IRS Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Certificate) is used by employees in the United States to inform their employers of the amount of federal income tax to withhold from their paychecks. The principal purpose of the form is to withhold federal income taxes which will most closely match the taxpayer’s ultimate federal income tax liability at the end of the tax year when they file their Form 1040 (US Individual Income Tax Return).
Information Required on Form W-4 (as of the 2024 version):
- Name, address, and social security number (SSN)
- Tax filing status (e.g., single, married filing joint (MFJ), married filing separately (MFS), head of household (HOH), or qualifying surviving spouse (QSS)
- Number of qualifying children and other dependents, if any
- Optional adjustments for additional income, other deductions, or extra voluntary withholding
Video Tutorials
Please see our video tutorials below on various scenarios for Form W-4 withholding certificate:
- How to Use the IRS Withholding Tax Estimator
- IRS Form W-4 for Married Couple With TWO Jobs
- IRS Form W-4 for Married Couple with ONE Job
- IRS Form W-4 for 2022 Tax Year
Additional Information
Taxpayers can find more information in the Form W-4 instructions and the IRS website.