Achieve more precise withholdings
Your withholdings impact your refund and what you owe. We’ll help you understand them to avoid surprises.
W-4 WITHOLDING CALCULATOR
Adjust your withholdings with our W-4 refund calculator
Your W-4 directly affects your paycheck amount and potential tax refund. Use our W-4 tax withholding estimator to change your withholdings at any time and find the best fit for you. We’ll even help fill out your W-4 form(s).
Here’s what you’ll need:
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Current paycheck stubs for all jobs
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Last year’s tax return
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Salary information for remainder of the year
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Deductions info to be taken this year
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Info on additional income you might receive
We’ll help you optimize your W-4
Don’t be caught off guard by your refund amount or money you owe the IRS at tax time. We can help you...
Accommodate life changes
If you have a new job, had children, got married, or had a significant income change, it’s time to update your W-4 form.
Include all sources of income
It’s important to factor in all your household income, including income from your spouse or side job.
Avoid underpayment penalties
We’ll help you avoid penalties you’d incur if you didn’t withhold enough throughout the year.
Get tax help — however you need it
Approximately 55% of filers qualify for H&R Block Online Free Edition. Simple tax situations only (Form 1040 and no schedules except Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Student Loan Interest, and Retirement Plan Distributions). Learn more
- File yourself online any time, on any device
- Self-paced tax prep for simple returns
- Easy doc upload from phone, computer, or tablet
- File yourself online with live expert help
- Complex tax situations
- Options for deductions, investors, & self-employed
At home, in office, or drop off
- Online, in person, and hybrid options
- Expert support for unique tax situations
- Request to work with the same pro or get a new one
FAQs
For the W-4 calculator to estimate how much you should withhold, be sure to have on hand your paycheck info and estimates on any other income such as from a small business, interest, dividends, stocks, and more. You’ll also be asked about dependents and deductions.
The W-4 calculator will help you determine what to withhold from a paycheck to avoid paying the IRS. You generally want to avoid owing more than $1,000 at the time of filing to avoid penalties or interest from the IRS.
No. The W-4 calculator does not calculate your take-home pay. It only calculates the amount to withhold for your federal taxes and does not take into account state taxes or other items that may be withheld from your paycheck such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and more.
You should send your Form W-4 to your employer.
No. You’re only required to fill out a W-4 when you start a new job.
You only need to fill out the sections of the Form W-4 that are relevant to you.
After submitting answers about your tax situation, the W-4 calculator will show your tax withheld along with a slider you can move to adjust your refund or balance due. Move the slider to your desired refund or balance due to create a Form W-4 you can give to your employer.
Side gigs, second jobs, and any additional sources of income can affect your tax refund. Be sure to include these so the W-4 calculator can accurately determine how much to withhold from your paycheck.
You can reduce the amount to withhold if the W-4 calculator shows more than you want. Keep in mind that reducing the amount withheld will reduce your refund or cause you to owe more to the IRS.
Claiming dependents can make you eligible for certain tax benefits which can affect how much you pay in taxes. Entering information about any dependents you might have will help the W-4 calculator give a better estimate of your taxes and the amount you should withhold.
The W-4 calculator will fill one out for you to give to your employer. You can also enter the information from it into a payroll system if that’s required.
It’s a good idea to look at your W-4 withholdings every year or when a major change occurs in your life, such as a new child, a new job, and more.
Approximately 55% of filers qualify for H&R Block Online Free Edition. Below are the specific tax situations that are included and not included in Free Online:
Included Tax Situations
W-2 Income: Income reported on Form W-2 employment
Interest and Dividend Income: Limited interest and dividend income reported on Form 1099-INT or Form 1099-DIV up to $1,500.
Standard Deduction: Taxpayers who take the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Child Tax Credit (CTC): Eligibility for the Child Tax Credit.
Unemployment Income: Unemployment compensation reported on Form 1099-G.
Student Loan Interest Deduction: Deduction for student loan interest paid.
Retirement Plan Distributions: Taxable qualified retirement plan distributions reported on Form 1099-R.
Excluded Tax Situations
Itemized Deductions: Taxpayers who choose to itemize deductions (e.g., mortgage interest, charitable contributions).
Self-Employment Income: Income from self-employment or freelance work reported on Schedule C.
Rental Income: Income from rental properties reported on Schedule E.
Capital Gains and Losses: Transactions involving the sale of stocks, bonds, or other capital assets.
Business Income and Expenses: Income and expenses from a business or farm.
Foreign Income: Income earned outside the United States.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Contributions to or distributions from Health Savings Accounts.
Other Complex Tax Situations: Any other tax situations that require additional forms or schedules not supported by H&R Block Online Free Edition.