How many allowances should I claim in Hawaii?
On Hawaii's HW-4, a single filer with no dependents usually claims 2 and a married couple 3, plus one for each dependent. Each allowance takes $1,144 a year off the wages Hawaii withholding is figured on. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, one allowance more than that raises each paycheck by about $3.34. Claiming fewer means more withheld now and a bigger refund later.
How to count your allowances on the HW-4
The HW-4 worksheet gives 1 allowance for yourself, 1 more if you are single with one job (or married with one job and a spouse who doesn't work), 1 for your spouse, 1 for each dependent, and 1 if you file as head of household. That makes 2 normal for a single worker with one job and 3 for a married couple with one earner. Each allowance takes $1,144 a year off the wages withholding is figured on.
Hawaii does not allow anyone to claim exempt from withholding on the HW-4. Head of household filers withhold on the single table but get one extra allowance.
If you never file an HW-4, your employer withholds as if you are single with zero allowances.
Hawaii withholding by number of allowances
Single filer earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, federal W-4 with no adjustments. The highlighted row is the usual count for a single filer with no dependents.
| Allowances | Hawaii tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $120.02 | $1,806.52 |
| 1 | $116.68 | $1,809.86 |
| 2 | $113.34 | $1,813.20 |
| 3 | $109.99 | $1,816.55 |
| 4 | $106.65 | $1,819.89 |
| 5 | $103.30 | $1,823.24 |
| 6 | $99.96 | $1,826.58 |
Married couple on one $100,000 income, paid every two weeks:
| Allowances | Hawaii tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $194.35 | $3,048.72 |
| 1 | $191.19 | $3,051.89 |
| 2 | $188.02 | $3,055.06 |
| 3 | $184.85 | $3,058.23 |
| 4 | $181.68 | $3,061.40 |
| 5 | $178.51 | $3,064.56 |
| 6 | $175.35 | $3,067.73 |
Should you claim more or fewer?
Allowances only change how much is withheld during the year. Your actual Hawaii tax is settled on your state return. Claim more than you qualify for and you may owe at tax time. Claim fewer and you get the difference back as a refund. If you would rather keep the count simple, most forms also let you ask for an extra dollar amount from each paycheck.
The federal Form W-4 dropped allowances in 2020, so your federal and Hawaii forms work differently. See how many allowances to claim and how to fill out a W-4. To see your own numbers, open the Hawaii paycheck calculator and set the allowances under the state form step.
Sources
Hawaii Department of Taxation, Form HW-4 and Hawaii Department of Taxation, withholding tables for 2026. Withholding figures come from the same 2026 formulas the calculator uses; see how we calculate.