What Is Missouri Form 5049 and How Do I Fill It Out?

Missouri’s Form MO W-4, the Employee’s Withholding Certificate, provides your employer with the instructions needed to withhold the correct amount of state income tax from your paychecks. Every employee must complete this form upon starting a new job. The information you provide dictates whether you might owe more taxes or receive a refund when you file your annual state tax return.

Accurately completing the MO W-4 helps you manage your tax obligations, preventing a large tax bill or a significant overpayment. This document is separate from the federal Form W-4 and specifically addresses your Missouri state tax liability.

Information and Decisions for Completing Form MO W-4

Before you can fill out Form MO W-4, you must make key decisions that will affect your take-home pay. The primary decision is selecting your filing status, which should mirror the status you plan to use on your annual Missouri income tax return. The options include Single, Married, or Head of Household, and choosing the correct one is a direct factor in how much tax is withheld.

The state’s withholding calculation has been simplified and now incorporates a standard deduction based on your filing status: $15,000 for Single, $30,000 for Married if your spouse does not work, and $22,500 for Head of Household. The form no longer uses a system of “allowances” to calculate withholding. Instead, the focus shifts to whether you need to adjust your withholding from the standard calculation.

This adjustment is relevant if you have multiple jobs, or if your spouse also works, as the standard calculation on a single form may not be sufficient to cover your total tax liability. The Missouri Department of Revenue provides an online withholding calculator to help you estimate if an adjustment is needed. If your financial situation suggests the standard withholding will be too low, you can specify an additional dollar amount to be withheld from each paycheck.

You might also choose to have extra tax withheld if you have significant non-wage income from sources like freelancing or investments, which are not subject to automatic withholding. By instructing your employer to withhold an additional amount, you can cover the tax liability from this other income. This step helps avoid underpayment penalties when you file your state tax return.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out and Submitting the Form

You can obtain the most current version of Form MO W-4 directly from the Missouri Department of Revenue’s website. Once you have the form, you can proceed with filling it out.

• Enter your personal details, including your full name, Social Security Number, and address.
• Check the box that corresponds to the filing status you have chosen.
• Enter a specific dollar amount on Line 2, titled “Additional Withholding,” if you have determined that you need more tax withheld. If the standard withholding is appropriate for your situation, you can leave this line blank.
• Write “EXEMPT” on the indicated line if you qualify. To claim exemption, you must have had no Missouri tax liability in the prior year and expect none in the current year.
• Sign and date the form to certify that the information is accurate.

The final step is to submit the completed and signed Form MO W-4 to your employer’s payroll or human resources department. Your employer is responsible for using this information to update their payroll system and ensure the correct amount of state tax is withheld. For new hires, your employer is also required to submit a copy of the form to the Missouri Department of Revenue within 20 days.