How many exemptions should I claim in Indiana?
On Indiana's WH-4, a single filer with no dependents usually claims 1 and a married couple 2. Each exemption takes $1,000 a year off the wages Indiana withholding is figured on. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, one exemption more than that raises each paycheck by about $1.13. Claiming fewer means more withheld now and a bigger refund later.
How to count your exemptions on the WH-4
Most workers claim 1 personal exemption for themselves and 1 for a spouse who doesn't claim their own. Each personal exemption takes $1,000 a year off the wages withholding is figured on. The tables below count only these personal exemptions.
Dependents go on their own lines of the WH-4, and a qualifying child or adopted child can count on more than one line, so they lower withholding by more than a personal exemption does. The form also asks which county you lived and worked in on January 1, because Indiana withholds county tax too.
Indiana withholding by number of exemptions
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.
| Exemptions | Indiana tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $68.08 | $1,870.00 |
| 1 | $66.94 | $1,871.13 |
| 2 | $65.81 | $1,872.27 |
| 3 | $64.67 | $1,873.40 |
| 4 | $63.54 | $1,874.54 |
| 5 | $62.40 | $1,875.67 |
Married couple on one $100,000 income, paid every two weeks:
| Exemptions | Indiana tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $113.46 | $3,144.62 |
| 1 | $112.33 | $3,145.75 |
| 2 | $111.19 | $3,146.88 |
| 3 | $110.06 | $3,148.02 |
| 4 | $108.92 | $3,149.15 |
| 5 | $107.79 | $3,150.29 |
Should you claim more or fewer?
Exemptions only change how much is withheld during the year. Your actual Indiana 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 Indiana forms work differently. See how many allowances to claim and how to fill out a W-4. To see your own numbers, open the Indiana paycheck calculator and set the exemptions under the state form step.
Sources
Indiana DOR, Form WH-4 and Indiana DOR, Departmental Notice #1. Withholding figures come from the same 2026 formulas the calculator uses; see how we calculate.