Form W-4 — Payroll Definition
The IRS form you fill out when hired to tell your employer how much federal tax to withhold.
The IRS form you fill out when hired to tell your employer how much federal tax to withhold.
Form W-4 (Employee's Withholding Certificate) tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your paycheck. The 2020+ version eliminated "allowances" and instead uses a 5-step process based on filing status, multiple jobs, dependents, and additional withholding. You can update your W-4 at any time — common reasons include marriage, having a child, buying a home, or getting a second job. If you claim exempt on your W-4, no federal tax is withheld (but you still pay FICA).