How to Fill Out Form W-4 When Married Filing Jointly
Adjust your tax withholding as a married couple to align paychecks with your joint tax liability, helping to prevent a large tax bill or refund.
Form W-4, the “Employee’s Withholding Certificate,” is the form that tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your paychecks. For married couples who file a joint tax return, the income from both spouses is combined to determine your total household income. To ensure the correct amount is withheld throughout the year, your W-4 must account for your spouse’s income. This helps you avoid a large tax bill or a small refund when you file your return.
Information Needed to Complete Your W-4
To ensure your tax withholding is accurate, you will need to gather specific personal and financial information before filling out your Form W-4. This includes:
- Your full name, address, and Social Security number.
- Your filing status, such as “Married Filing Jointly.”
- Your spouse’s employment and income details; a recent pay stub is helpful.
- The number of qualifying children under age 17 and any other dependents you will claim.
- Estimates of other income you expect, such as from interest, dividends, or freelance work.
- Any deductions you plan to take, like for student loan interest or IRA contributions.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out Form W-4
The Form W-4 is divided into five steps. Step 1 requires you to enter your personal information, including your name, address, Social Security number, and your selected filing status. This is where you would check the box for “Married filing jointly.”
Step 2 is for households where both spouses work. You have three options here. The most accurate option is using the IRS’s online Tax Withholding Estimator, which provides a precise recommendation for your withholding. You can also use the Multiple Jobs Worksheet provided on page three of the Form W-4. The simplest option, if both jobs have similar pay, is to check the box in Step 2(c), which must be checked on the W-4s for both jobs.
In Step 3, you will claim your dependents. If your total household income is $400,000 or less, you multiply the number of qualifying children under age 17 by $2,000 and the number of other dependents by $500, entering the total on line 3. Step 4 allows for other adjustments, such as other income, deductions, or requesting an additional amount of tax to be withheld from each paycheck. Step 5 is to sign and date the form.
Submitting Your W-4 and When to Update It
Submit the completed and signed Form W-4 to your employer’s human resources or payroll department. Your employer will use this to adjust the tax withheld from your paychecks. It is a good practice to review your first pay stub after submission to ensure the changes have been correctly implemented.
You should review your W-4 annually and submit an updated form whenever a significant life or financial event occurs. This ensures your withholding remains accurate. Events that should prompt a W-4 review include getting married, the birth or adoption of a child, or if a spouse starts a new job, stops working, or has a significant change in income.