Home Taxes Just Married: How to Fill Out Your W-4
Big life events often trigger tax changes, and getting married is one of them. Though often overlooked, one of the most important steps you should take after getting married is updating your Form W-4 with your employer.
Should I fill out a new W-4 form when married?
Yes! Your W-4 form tells your employer how much tax to withhold from your paychecks. If you continue to list “single” on your W-4, your employer will likely withhold more tax from your paychecks than they would if you checked “married.”
Updating Form W-4 will ensure you and your spouse have the right amount of taxes withheld, potentially giving you more money in your pocket throughout the year.
How do I fill out a W-4 after marriage?
When you get married, your financial situation may change, and you’ll need to account for this on your W-4.
Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
1. Update personal information
The name on your tax return must match your name on file with the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you plan on changing your name but haven’t filed for a name change with the SSA, make sure you use your pre-married name when filing your taxes.
If your address changed after marriage, you can file a change of address, Form 8822, with the IRS.
2. Determine your filing status
Will you be filing as married filing jointly or married filing separately this tax season? If you’re not sure yet, check out I’m Married, What Filing Status Should I Choose?.
2: Account for multiple jobs
Do you and your spouse both work? If so, you need to note this on your W-4 form. This will ensure you don’t have too much income tax withheld and possibly give you both bigger paychecks throughout the year.
Some tips:
- If you both work one job and make roughly the same amount, you should check box 2(c) on your W-4 form. Make sure both of you check this box on your respective W-4 forms.
- The spouse with the highest paying job should fill out steps 2-4 on the W-4 form (the other spouse can keep those steps blank on their W-4).
- If you have a second job and your spouse also works (three or more jobs between you), you can account for this on page 3 of your W-4 form — the Multiple Jobs Worksheet.
3: Claim any dependents
If you and your spouse have kids and your total joint income is less than $400,000 (or $200,000 if filing separately), you likely qualify for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which can be worth up to $2,000 per child. To account for this, one of you will want to note your children as dependents on your W-4 form. The form will have you multiply the number of qualified children under age 17 by $2,000, and your employer will adjust your withholding accordingly.
Only one spouse is allowed to claim dependents — typically, the spouse with the higher income.
Can I claim my spouse as a dependent?
No, the IRS does not let you claim your spouse as a dependent. Some examples of dependents include children, stepchildren, siblings, or parents.
4: Change your withholdings (optional)
Step 4(c) allows you to record any additional tax you want to be withheld from your paychecks. If you are concerned about having too little withheld, this is your chance to accommodate for that.
The Multiple Jobs Worksheet can also help you determine how much extra you should withhold.
Get help filling out your W-4
If you’re still not sure how to fill out your W-4 form, don’t sweat it. By answering a few questions, our Refund Booster1 and W-4 calculator can help you fill out a new W-4 to get your desired results — whether that’s a bigger refund at tax time or more money in your paychecks throughout the year.
This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.
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1Refund Booster may not work for everyone or in all circ*mstances and by itself doesn’t constitute legal or tax advice. Your personal tax situation may vary.
FAQs
The next question you'll want to ask yourself is, “should I claim 0 or 1 if I am married?”. The answer depends on a couple of factors. Claiming 0 when you are married indicates that there is only one sole earner in the family. Let's say you work, but your spouse doesn't, or they only work a part-time position.
Should I claim 0 or 1 if I am married? ›
The next question you'll want to ask yourself is, “should I claim 0 or 1 if I am married?”. The answer depends on a couple of factors. Claiming 0 when you are married indicates that there is only one sole earner in the family. Let's say you work, but your spouse doesn't, or they only work a part-time position.
Should I claim married or head of household on w4? ›
At a glance: You can only claim head of household filing status if you are unmarried. Filing as head of household gives you a higher standard deduction than as a single filer. Married filing jointly makes sense for many married couples, with a few exceptions.
How many exemptions should I claim on w4 if married? ›
A single filer with no children should claim a maximum of 1 allowance, while a married couple with one source of income should file a joint return with 2 allowances. You can also claim your children as dependents if you support them financially and they're not past the age of 19.
What happens if I don't update my W4 after getting married? ›
Newly married couples must give their employers a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate within 10 days. If both spouses work, they may move into a higher tax bracket or be affected by the additional Medicare tax. They can use the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov to help complete a new Form W-4.
Can I legally claim single on W4 if married? ›
Generally, your filing status is based on your marital status on the last day of the year. You can choose: Single if you're unmarried, divorced or legally separated. Married filing jointly if you're married or if your spouse passed away during the year.
Do I claim 0 or 1 on my W4? ›
By placing a “0” on line 5, you are indicating that you want the most amount of tax taken out of your pay each pay period. If you wish to claim 1 for yourself instead, then less tax is taken out of your pay each pay period. 2. You can choose to have no taxes taken out of your tax and claim Exemption (see Example 2).
How to fill out W4 to get more money? ›
If you are someone who likes receiving a bigger tax refund with your annual return, changing your W-4 form to get more money with your refund is easy. You can choose what additional amount, if any, you want withheld from each paycheck on line 4(c) of the W-4 form.
What happens if you claim single but are married? ›
In other words, you can't choose the single filing status if you're married. In some situations, the tax brackets are different for single filers and married couples filing separately.
What happened to married but withhold at higher single rate? ›
For persons who choose “Married but withhold at the higher single rate” (on Form W-4) mark them as False (single) so that more income tax will be withheld each pay period.
When you are married and file a joint return, your income is combined — which, in turn, may bump one or both of you into a higher tax bracket. Or, one of you is a higher earner, that spouse may find themselves in a lower tax bracket. Depending on your situation, this could be a tax benefit of being married.
What should I put on my W4 to avoid owing taxes? ›
If you want less taxes taken out of your paychecks, perhaps leading to having to pay a tax bill when you file your annual return, here's how you might adjust your W-4. Increase the number of dependents. Reduce the number on line 4(a) or 4(c). Increase the number on line 4(b).
How to get the most out of your paycheck without owing taxes? ›
To receive a bigger refund, adjust line 4(c) on Form W-4, called "Extra withholding," to increase the federal tax withholding for each paycheck you receive. Tax withholding calculators help you get a big picture view of your refund situation by asking detailed questions.
Is there a big difference between claiming 0 and 1? ›
By placing a “0” on line 5, you are indicating that you want the most amount of tax taken out of your pay each pay period. If you wish to claim 1 for yourself instead, then less tax is taken out of your pay each pay period. 2. You can choose to have no taxes taken out of your tax and claim Exemption (see Example 2).
Can I claim single 1 if I am married? ›
You cannot file single if you are married. There are some exceptions to this rule, if you are a widow(er), if you are legally separated from your spouse, or if you are under a divorce.
Is it illegal to put single on W4 if married? ›
If you can legally file as married, then you must. Married individuals cannot file as single or as the head of a household. Keep in mind the requirements are the same for same-sex marriages. If you were legally married by a state or foreign government, the IRS will expect you to file as married.
Who pays higher taxes married or single? ›
Tax brackets are different for each filing status, so your income may no longer be taxed at the same rate as when you were single. When you are married and file a joint return, your income is combined — which, in turn, may bump one or both of you into a higher tax bracket.
