Definition
The W-4, formally titled 'Employee's Withholding Certificate,' is the IRS form you give to your employer to tell them how much federal income tax to withhold from your paycheck. Employers are legally required to withhold based on the most recent W-4 you've submitted.
The current W-4 design — overhauled in 2020 — has five steps. Step 1 collects your name and filing status. Step 2 handles multiple-job situations. Step 3 lets you claim dependent tax credits. Step 4 covers other income, deductions, and extra withholding. Step 5 is your signature. Most single-job employees only need to complete Steps 1 and 5; the rest are optional adjustments.
You can submit a new W-4 to your employer at any time — there's no annual requirement and no limit on changes.
How this affects your W-4
The W-4 is the direct mechanism for adjusting your withholding. Every calculation this tool produces translates directly into W-4 line entries: your filing status in Step 1c, your dependent credits in Step 3, and any extra per-paycheck withholding in Step 4c.
Submitting an updated W-4 typically takes effect within one or two payroll cycles.
See how w-4 form affects your withholding
Use the free W-4 calculator to calculate your exact withholding with your specific situation.
Open the W-4 Calculator →Related terms
Withholding
Taxes taken out of each paycheck before you receive it.
Filing Status
Your tax category based on marital and household situation — determines your tax brackets and standard deduction.
Step 4c — Extra Withholding
A line on the W-4 where you specify a flat dollar amount to withhold from every paycheck in addition to the calculated amount.