W-4 Guide
Your W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. Here is what each step does, and how it shows up on your stub.
In plain English
The five W-4 steps
- Step 1 — filing status. Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household. Each maps to a different bracket table.
- Step 2 — multiple jobs / both spouses work. Use the IRS estimator, the Multiple Jobs Worksheet, or the Step 2(c) checkbox to avoid under-withholding.
- Step 3 — dependents. $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, $500 per other dependent.
- Step 4(a) — other income. Annual income from interest, dividends, side jobs.
- Step 4(b) — deductions above standard. Annual itemized deductions in excess of the standard deduction.
- Step 4(c) — extra withholding. Flat dollar amount on every paycheck.
Worked example
Single filer, $80,000 annual salary, biweekly pay, two children under 17, no other income, no extra withholding.
Annualised gross: $80,000. Federal tax via 2025 IRS Pub. 15-T Single brackets: ~$10,238. Subtract dependent credits: 2 × $2,000 = $4,000. Annual withholding: ~$6,238. Per biweekly paycheck: ~$240. Add Step 4(c) if you want to top up.
Worked example uses round numbers for clarity. Your actual figures will differ — use the calculator above for an estimate.
What to check on your pay stub
- Is your filing status on the W-4 correct for this year?
- If you have a second job (or your spouse does), is Step 2 set?
- Are the dependents you claimed in Step 3 still under 17?
- Did Step 4(c) extra withholding get applied per paycheck?
- Does your federal withholding line on the most recent stub make sense given the W-4 you submitted?
If your federal withholding does not match what you expected after a W-4 update, ask payroll for the W-4 settings currently on file. Use the Ask Payroll Generator to draft a polite, specific message in 30 seconds.
Official sources
- IRS Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — IRS · 2025 · last verified 2025-04-01
- IRS Form W-4 and instructions — IRS · 2025 · last verified 2025-04-01
Common questions
What does a W-4 actually do?▾
It tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck based on your filing status, dependents, other income, deductions, and any extra withholding you request.
Why did my paycheck change after I updated my W-4?▾
A new W-4 changes your filing status, dependents, deductions, or extra withholding — any of which can move your federal withholding up or down.
Should I claim more dependents to get a bigger paycheck?▾
Claiming more dependent credits than you actually have will lower your withholding now but can leave you owing tax (and possibly a penalty) at year end. We can't advise on this — speak with a CPA.