Form W-4

Form W-4, the Employee's Withholding Certificate, tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your pay. You fill it out when you start a job and can change it at any time.

Since 2020 it has five steps: your details and filing status, the multiple jobs box, credits for dependents, other adjustments, and your signature. Allowances are gone from the federal form. The W-4 guide walks through each step.

Step 4(b) is for deductions beyond the standard one, and Step 4(c) is extra withholding per check. You can also claim exempt if you owe no tax. For what each choice means per check, read how much federal tax should be withheld. Many states have their own form, explained under withholding allowance.