Money · Taxes for regular people

Filling out a W-4

A W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to hold back from each paycheck. Use the 2026 form at every new job. Most people with one job and no dependents fill in Step 1, sign Step 5, and are done. If you earn tips or overtime, Step 4(b) is new and worth a look.

Easy15 min to doFreeChecked October 2, 2026

You'll need

Your Social Security number
Last year's tax return, if you filed one
A recent pay stub, if you have one

Do it like this

Everyone does Steps 1 and 5. The rest only if they apply.

Get the 2026 Form W-4 from your employer or the IRS Form W-4 page. Many employers have you fill it out online. It's the same form.
Step 1: your name, address, Social Security number and filing status. Your name should match your Social Security card. If it doesn't, the form says to contact the Social Security Administration so you get credit for your earnings. Source: IRS¹
Steps 2 through 4 are only for people they apply to. Source: IRS¹ Step 2 is for more than one job, or a married couple filing jointly where both work. Step 3 is for dependents. Step 4 covers other income, deductions and extra withholding.
Earn tips or overtime? Use the Deductions Worksheet on page 4 and put the result in Step 4(b). For 2026 it has lines for qualified tips (an estimate, up to $25,000) and qualified overtime (only the extra "half" of time-and-a-half, up to $12,500 if single). You get the full deduction with income up to $150,000 ($300,000 if married filing jointly), and it shrinks above that. Source: IRS⁵ This lowers your withholding now instead of waiting for a refund. Source: IRS¹
Sign and date Step 5 and hand it in. The form isn't valid unless you sign it. Source: IRS¹
Check your first paycheck. If the withholding looks off, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. The IRS updated it for the 2025 tax law changes, including tips and overtime, and it can produce a filled-in W-4 for you. Source: IRS⁴

Watch out Don't check the "Exempt from withholding" box unless you meet both conditions: you had no federal income tax liability in 2025, and you expect none in 2026. If you claim exempt, no income tax comes out of your pay, and you may owe tax and penalties when you file. An exemption lasts one year. You need a new W-4 by February 16, 2027. Source: IRS¹

See it done

Video by Forager Tax tax-firm owner Tax firm

2026 Form W-4 Tutorial

Watch on YouTube: 2026 Form W-4 Tutorial: How to Fill It Out Step by Step

Full title on YouTube: “2026 Form W-4 Tutorial: How to Fill It Out Step by Step”2026 · Checked October 3, 2026

From a tax-firm owner, and it matches the 2026 form. He skips the new Step 4(b) for tips and overtime. That's our step 4.

Video won't load at school or work? No problem. Everything you need is in the steps; the video's just a bonus. Watch it on YouTube later.

If it doesn't work

If too little is coming out, run the estimator. It can give you a completed W-4 to hand to your employer. Source: IRS³
If too much is coming out, the estimator can show how to get a bigger paycheck now instead of a bigger refund later. Source: IRS³
If you have two jobs, fill in Steps 3 through 4(b) on the W-4 for only one job, ideally the highest-paying one, and use Step 2 so both jobs together withhold enough. Source: IRS¹
If you claimed exempt and your situation changed, turn in a new W-4 without the box checked. Source: IRS¹

Good to know

The details, if you want them. Tap a line to open it.

Tips and overtime still count for Social Security

The new deductions are for federal income tax. Tips (if they're $20 or more a month) and overtime are still generally subject to Social Security and Medicare tax. Source: IRS⁶

Qualified tips, explained

The IRS says qualified tips are voluntary cash or charged tips from customers or tip sharing, in jobs where people customarily get tips, like wait staff, bartenders and salon workers. Source: IRS⁵

Check every January

The IRS suggests checking your withholding every January, and again after big changes like a second job. Source: IRS³

No more allowances

Old W-4s used "allowances." The current form doesn't. If someone tells you to claim a number, they're thinking of the old form. Source: IRS¹

Skip it and you're withheld as single

If you don't turn in a properly completed W-4, your employer treats you as a single filer with no other entries. Source: IRS¹

About the estimator

It takes about 25 minutes, doesn't ask for your name, Social Security number or bank details, and doesn't save your answers. Source: IRS³

Where it shows up

Your federal withholding shows on every pay stub. See Reading your pay stub.

Take it with you

Printable card Download card (PDF)

Sources

Internal Revenue Service Form W-4 (2026), Employee's Withholding Certificate (PDF)
Internal Revenue Service About Form W-4
Internal Revenue Service Tax Withholding Estimator
Internal Revenue Service Updated Tax Withholding Estimator reflects One, Big, Beautiful Bill changes
Internal Revenue Service How to take advantage of no tax on tips and overtime
Internal Revenue Service Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods

Lesson M6.2 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed.

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