Does this calculator file my taxes?

No. It estimates federal withholding and suggests W-4 entries; it does not file returns.

Are state and local taxes included?

No. This tool estimates US federal income tax withholding only.

Which tax year does this use?

It uses 2024 US federal tax brackets and standard deductions and is updated as IRS releases new figures.

How are dependents handled?

It estimates the Child Tax Credit ($2,000 per qualifying child under 17) and the Credit for Other Dependents ($500), including statutory phaseouts.

Is the result the exact amount my employer will withhold?

No. Employers apply IRS payroll tables. This tool provides a precise estimate based on annualization; actual withholdings can differ slightly.

Can I enter multiple jobs?

Yes. Add other jobs’ annual wages to improve accuracy and we’ll proportionally allocate your annual tax across jobs.

W-4 Withholding Calculator

Quickly estimate your federal income tax withholding per paycheck and generate ready-to-use W‑4 entries (Steps 3 and 4). Ideal for employees, HR, and payroll planners who want accurate, transparent figures without guesswork.

Calculator

Filing status *

Single Married filing jointly Head of Household

Pay frequency *

Gross pay per period (before taxes) *

Pre-tax deductions per period (optional)

Other jobs’ annual wages (you or spouse) (optional)

Other annual income (interest, freelance, etc.) — W‑4 Step 4(a) (optional)

Itemized deductions total (annual) (optional)

Children under 17 (Step 3) *

Other dependents (Step 3) *

Current federal tax withheld per paycheck (optional)

Results

Annual wages from this job

$0.00

Estimated AGI (annual)

$0.00

Deduction used (standard or itemized)

$0.00

Taxable income (annual)

$0.00

Federal tax before credits (annual)

$0.00

Child & dependent credits applied (annual)

$0.00

Estimated federal tax (annual, after credits)

$0.00

Estimated federal withholding needed per paycheck (this job)

$0.00

Suggested W‑4 Step 3 (dependents)

$0.00

Suggested W‑4 Step 4(a) (other income)

$0.00

Suggested W‑4 Step 4(b) (deductions exceeding standard)

$0.00

Suggested W‑4 Step 4(c) Extra withholding per paycheck

$0.00

Note: If you provided your current withholding per paycheck, Step 4(c) suggests the incremental amount to reach the target withholding. Otherwise, it displays the full target withholding per paycheck.

Data Source and Methodology

This estimator uses the IRS annualization approach and 2024 tax parameters:

IRS Publication 15-T (2024) — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods. Direct PDF
IRS Publication 505 (2024) — Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. Reference
Revenue Procedure 2023-34 — 2024 inflation adjustments (tax brackets). Direct PDF
Form W‑4 and Instructions (2024). Reference
IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. Official tool

Tutti i calcoli si basano rigorosamente sulle formule e sui dati forniti da questa fonte.

The Formula Explained

Annualize wages and compute AGI:
1) $ W_a = (W_p - P_p)\times n $
2) $ W_{\text{total}} = W_a + W_{\text{otherJobs}} $
3) $ \mathrm{AGI} = W_{\text{total}} + O $

Deduction used:
4) $ D = \max(\mathrm{SD}_f,\, ID) $
5) $ TI = \max(0,\, \mathrm{AGI} - D) $

Progressive tax (piecewise by filing status f):
6) $ T = \sum_{i} r_i \cdot \max\big(0,\, \min(TI,\, u_i) - l_i\big) $, where $[l_i,u_i)$ are bracket bounds and $r_i$ the rates.

Child & dependent credits with phaseout:
7) $ C_0 = 2000 \cdot N_{<17} + 500 \cdot N_{\text{other}} $
8) $ \text{Thr}_f = \begin{cases} 400{,}000 & f=\text{MFJ}\\ 200{,}000 & f\in\{\text{Single},\text{HOH}\} \end{cases} $
9) $ R = 50 \cdot \left\lceil \dfrac{\max(0,\, \mathrm{AGI}-\text{Thr}_f)}{1000} \right\rceil $
10) $ C = \max(0,\, C_0 - R) $
11) $ T_{\text{net}} = \max(0,\, T - C) $

Allocate to this job and convert to per‑paycheck:
12) $ s = \dfrac{W_a}{\max(W_{\text{total}},1)} $
13) $ W_{\text{pp}} = \dfrac{T_{\text{net}}\cdot s}{n} $

Glossary of Variables

Wp: Gross pay per period for this job
Pp: Pre-tax deductions per period (401k, HSA, etc.)
n: Pay periods per year (weekly=52, biweekly=26, semimonthly=24, monthly=12, annually=1)
Wa: Annual wages from this job after pre-tax deductions
WotherJobs: Annual wages from other job(s) or spouse
O: Other annual income (interest, dividends, side work)
SDf: Standard deduction for filing status f
ID: Itemized deductions total
TI: Taxable income
T: Federal tax before credits
C: Child and dependent credits after phaseout (nonrefundable portion applied)
Tnet: Net federal tax after credits
s: Share of total earned income attributable to this job
Wpp: Estimated withholding needed per paycheck for this job

How It Works: A Step‑by‑Step Example

Scenario: Filing status Single; Biweekly pay (26/yr); Gross per period $3,000; Pre‑tax $200; No other jobs; No other income; Itemized $0; One child under 17; No other dependents.

Annualize this job: Wa = (3000 − 200) × 26 = $72,800.
AGI = Wa + WotherJobs + O = 72,800 + 0 + 0 = $72,800.
Standard deduction (Single, 2024) SD = $14,600. Itemized = $0 → Use $14,600.
Taxable income TI = 72,800 − 14,600 = $58,200.
Tax before credits T (2024 Single brackets): 10% of 11,600 = $1,160; 12% of 35,550 (11,600–47,150) = $4,266; 22% of 11,050 (47,150–58,200) = $2,431; Total T ≈ $7,857.
Credits: C0 = 1 × $2,000 = $2,000. AGI below $200,000 → no phaseout. C = $2,000.
Tnet = 7,857 − 2,000 = $5,857.
Share s = Wa / Wa = 1. Per‑paycheck Wpp = 5,857 / 26 ≈ $225.27.
W‑4 Suggestions: Step 3 = $2,000; Step 4(a) = $0; Step 4(b) = $0 (no excess over standard); If your current withholding is, say, $180, Step 4(c) ≈ 225.27 − 180 = $45.27.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is this calculator compliant with the 2020+ W‑4 design?

Yes. It reflects the current W‑4 structure (Steps 1–5) and provides suggestions for Steps 3 and 4 based on IRS publications.

How accurate is the per‑paycheck estimate?

It uses annualization aligned with IRS guidance and 2024 brackets. Actual payroll systems follow IRS tables, so small differences can occur. Entering other jobs’ wages improves accuracy.

Do you handle the Child Tax Credit phaseout?

Yes. We apply the $50 per $1,000 (or fraction) reduction above $200,000 (Single/HOH) or $400,000 (MFJ), and cap the nonrefundable credit at your tax.

What do I put on Step 4(b)?

Only the amount by which your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction for your filing status. The calculator shows this value directly.

Where can I verify official figures?

See IRS Publication 15‑T, Publication 505, and the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator linked above. You can also review the W‑4 instructions.

Is this tax advice?

No. This tool is for educational planning. Consult a tax professional for advice about your specific situation.

Tool developed by Ugo Candido. Content verified by CalcDomain Editorial Team.
Last reviewed for accuracy on: September 13, 2025.