How to Fill Out an L-4 Employee Withholding Form
Properly complete your Louisiana L-4 form to ensure correct state income tax withholding. A clear guide for employees to manage their tax obligations.
The Louisiana Employee Withholding Exemption Certificate, known as Form L-4, provides employers with the necessary information to accurately withhold Louisiana state income tax from an employee’s wages. Completing the L-4 form helps ensure the correct amount of tax is remitted to the state. This process contributes to an employee’s overall tax compliance by preventing significant under-withholding or over-withholding throughout the year.
Information Needed for the L-4 Form
Before filling out the L-4 form, gather your full legal name, current home address, and Social Security number. These identifiers ensure accurate record-keeping and proper attribution of your tax withholdings. You will also need to determine your marital status for tax purposes, which directly influences the amount of tax withheld.
The L-4 form requires you to declare withholding allowances, which directly impact the amount of state income tax withheld. These allowances are based on your personal circumstances, such as whether you are single or married. For instance, you might claim one allowance if single or two if married and filing jointly. You may also claim additional allowances for dependents you support.
An accompanying worksheet on the L-4 form assists in calculating the appropriate number of allowances. This worksheet helps individuals determine their personal exemptions and dependency credits. Employees can also indicate if they wish to have an additional amount withheld from each pay period to avoid a large tax bill at year-end. The L-4 form can typically be obtained from your employer or directly downloaded from the Louisiana Department of Revenue website.
Completing Each Section of the L-4
Completing the L-4 form involves several distinct sections. Begin by accurately entering your personal details, including your full name, Social Security number, and complete home address.
Next, indicate your marital status for tax purposes by selecting the appropriate option. This selection guides your employer in applying the correct state tax withholding tables to your wages. Then, enter the total number of personal exemptions you calculated, typically found in Block A of the accompanying worksheet. This number reflects your personal and spouse’s exemptions.
Input the total number of dependency credits you are claiming, as determined in Block B of the worksheet. If you wish to have an extra amount of state income tax withheld from each paycheck, specify that additional amount. Finally, sign and date the form to certify that the information provided is accurate and complete.
Submitting and Revising Your L-4
Once completed, submit the signed L-4 form to your employer, typically to the human resources or payroll department. Your employer will then use the information provided to calculate and withhold the appropriate amount of Louisiana state income tax from your wages. Maintaining an accurate L-4 form is important for proper tax planning throughout the year.
You may need to revise your L-4 form if your personal or financial situation changes. This includes life events such as a change in marital status, the addition or removal of dependents, or significant changes in your income. If the number of your exemptions decreases, you must file a new certificate within 10 days to avoid under-withholding penalties. Conversely, you may file a new certificate at any time if your exemptions increase, allowing for a reduction in withheld tax. To revise your L-4, simply complete a new form with the updated information and submit it to your employer.