W-4 Withholding Calculator
Fill out your W-4 correctly: compute dependents, other income, and extra withholding so your paycheck matches your actual tax bill. Free, instant, private.
The redesigned W-4 (post-2020) removed allowances, and a lot of paychecks have been wrong ever since — either a surprise tax bill in April or a giant refund that was really an interest-free loan to the Treasury. This calculator works out exactly what to put in each W-4 box.
Enter your filing status, other jobs, dependents, and other income; get the entries for Steps 3 and 4(c) — including how much extra per paycheck to withhold when a second job or side income would otherwise go untaxed.
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W-4 Withholding Calculator
Calculate your W-4 withholding allowances and download a pre-filled form.
Withholding calculations are based on IRS 2026 tax brackets and standard deductions. Multiple jobs, itemized deductions, and other income may affect actual withholding. Consult a tax professional.
How your W-4 withholding works — illustrated
Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. The IRS computes an annual withholding target by applying the progressive 2026 tax tables to your taxable income (wages minus the standard or itemized deduction), then subtracting dependents credits — $2,200 per qualifying child and $500 per other dependent under the 2026 OBBBA rules — plus any extra amount you request in Step 4(c). That annual target is divided by the number of pay periods in the year (26 for biweekly, 24 for semi-monthly, 12 for monthly) to get the per-paycheck amount. Setting it correctly avoids a surprise tax bill in April or a refund you effectively lent to the IRS interest-free.
Sample: a single filer earning $78,000/year, paid biweekly, with one qualifying child. The 2026 standard deduction of $16,100 removes the first slice of income, then progressive rates (10%, 12%, 22%) apply to the remainder before credits.
Maya is a single graphic designer in Austin earning $78,000/year, paid biweekly, with one qualifying child and no other income, deductions, or extra withholding.
- Total income:$78,000 per year from her W-2 job
- Taxable income:$78,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $61,900
- Tax after credits:Progressive tax ≈ $8,330 − $2,200 child credit = $6,130
- Per-paycheck withholding:$6,130 ÷ 26 biweekly pay periods ≈ $236
About this W4 withholding calculator
This page covers how to fill out w4, w4 extra withholding per paycheck, w4 dependents step 3, avoid owing taxes at year end — all the same underlying task as W4 withholding calculator. The tool above is FreeToolHub's w4 calculator embedded in full: every feature works right here, and nothing you process is uploaded to any server.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fill out a W-4 to avoid owing taxes?
Complete Step 1 (filing status), claim dependents in Step 3 only if you'll actually claim them, list all household jobs and other income in Step 4(a), deductions in 4(b), and use 4(c) for extra per-paycheck withholding. The calculator produces each entry — the goal is withholding that tracks your real liability within a few hundred dollars.
Should I claim dependents on my W-4?
Only if you expect to claim the Child Tax Credit or Credit for Other Dependents on your return. Each qualifying child under 17 reduces withholding by $2,000 spread across the year. Claiming dependents you won't actually qualify for is the classic recipe for an April balance due.