How many allowances should I claim?

On the federal Form W-4 you should claim no allowances, because allowances no longer exist there. Since 2020 the form asks for your filing status, dependents and other dollar amounts. On a state form that still uses allowances, the usual count is one for you, one for a spouse and one per dependent, though some states add more.

Each extra allowance lowers withholding. Claim too many and you may owe at tax time. Claiming fewer, or asking for a flat extra amount, makes a refund more likely. Couples who both work and people with two jobs often claim fewer, since each employer withholds as if its job were the only one.

States that still count allowances include California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Virginia. Each state allowance page shows what one is worth. For the federal form, the W-4 guide walks through each step. Background: what a withholding allowance is.