HomeMy WebLinkAboutW-4Form W-4 2026
Employee’s Withholding Certificate
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Complete Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay.
Give Form W-4 to your employer.
Your withholding is subject to review by the IRS.
OMB No. 1545-0074
Step 1:
Enter
Personal
Information
(a) First name and middle initial Last name
Address
City or town, state, and ZIP code
(b) Social security number
Does your name match the
name on your social security
card? If not, to ensure you get
credit for your earnings,
contact SSA at 800-772-1213
or go to www.ssa.gov.
(c) Single or Married filing separately
Married filing jointly or Qualifying surviving spouse
Head of household (Check only if you’re unmarried and pay more than half the costs of keeping up a home for yourself and a qualifying individual.)
Caution: To claim certain credits or deductions on your tax return, you (and/or your spouse if married filing jointly) are required to have a social security
number valid for employment. See page 2 for more information.
TIP: Consider using the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App to determine the most accurate withholding for the rest of the year if you:
are completing this form after the beginning of the year; expect to work only part of the year; or have changes during the year in your
marital status, number of jobs for you (and/or your spouse if married filing jointly), dependents, other income (not from jobs),
deductions, or credits. Have your most recent pay stub(s) from this year available when using the estimator. At the beginning of next
year, use the estimator again to recheck your withholding.
Complete Steps 2–4 ONLY if they apply to you; otherwise, skip to Step 5. See page 2 for more information on each step, who can
claim exemption from withholding, and when to use the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App.
Step 2:
Multiple Jobs
or Spouse
Works
Complete this step if you (1) hold more than one job at a time, or (2) are married filing jointly and your spouse
also works. The correct amount of withholding depends on income earned from all of these jobs.
Do only one of the following.
(a) Use the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App for the most accurate withholding for this step (and Steps 3–4). If
you or your spouse have self-employment income, use this option; or
(b)Use the Multiple Jobs Worksheet on page 3 and enter the result in Step 4(c) below; or
(c)
If there are only two jobs total, you may check this box. Do the same on Form W-4 for the other job. This
option is generally more accurate than Step 2(b) if pay at the lower paying job is more than half of the pay at
the higher paying job. Otherwise, Step 2(b) is more accurate ...............
Complete Steps 3–4(b) on Form W-4 for only ONE of these jobs. Leave those steps blank for the other jobs. (Your withholding will
be most accurate if you complete Steps 3–4(b) on the Form W-4 for the highest paying job.)
Step 3:
Claim
Dependent
and Other
Credits
If your total income will be $200,000 or less ($400,000 or less if
married filing jointly):
(a) Multiply the number of qualifying children under age 17 by
$2,200 ..................3(a)$
(b)Multiply the number of other dependents by $500 ...3(b)$
Add the amounts from Steps 3(a) and 3(b), plus the amount for other credits. Enter the
total here ..........................3 $
Step 4:
Other
Adjustments
(a)
Other income (not from jobs). If you want tax withheld for other income you
expect this year that won’t have withholding, enter the amount of other income here.
This may include interest, dividends, and retirement income ........4(a)$
(b)
Deductions. Use the Deductions Worksheet on page 4 to determine the amount of
deductions you may claim, which will reduce your withholding. (If you skip this line,
your withholding will be based on the standard deduction.) Enter the result here ..4(b)$
(c)Extra withholding. Enter any additional tax you want withheld each pay period ..4(c)$
Exempt from
withholding
I claim exemption from withholding for 2026, and I certify that I meet both of the conditions for exemption for
2026. See Exemption from withholding on page 2. I understand I will need to submit a new Form W-4 for 2027 .
Step 5:
Sign
Here
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that this certificate, to the best of my knowledge and belief, is true, correct, and complete.
Employee’s signature (This form is not valid unless you sign it.)Date
Employers
Only
Employer’s name and address First date of
employment
Employer identification
number (EIN)
For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see page 4.Cat. No. 10220Q Form W-4 (2026) Created 12/8/25
Form W-4 (2026)Page 2
General Instructions
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless
otherwise noted.
Future Developments
For the latest information about developments related to Form
W-4, such as legislation enacted after it was published, go to
www.irs.gov/FormW4.
Purpose of Form
Complete Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the
correct federal income tax from your pay. If too little is withheld,
you will generally owe tax when you file your tax return and may
owe a penalty. If too much is withheld, you will generally be due
a refund. Complete a new Form W-4 when changes to your
personal or financial situation would change the entries on the
form. For more information on withholding and when you must
furnish a new Form W-4, see Pub. 505, Tax Withholding and
Estimated Tax.
Exemption from withholding. You may claim exemption from
withholding for 2026 if you meet both of the following
conditions: you had no federal income tax liability in 2025 and
you expect to have no federal income tax liability in 2026. You
had no federal income tax liability in 2025 if (1) your total tax on
line 24 on your 2025 Form 1040 or 1040-SR is zero (or less than
the sum of lines 27a, 28, 29, and 30), or (2) you were not
required to file a return because your income was below the
filing threshold for your correct filing status. If you claim
exemption, you will have no income tax withheld from your
paycheck and may owe taxes and penalties when you file your
2026 tax return. To claim exemption from withholding, certify
that you meet both of the conditions by checking the box in the
Exempt from withholding section. Then, complete Steps 1(a),
1(b), and 5. Do not complete any other steps. You will need to
submit a new Form W-4 by February 16, 2027.
Your privacy. Steps 2(c) and 4(a) ask for information regarding
income you received from sources other than the job associated
with this Form W-4. If you have concerns with providing the
information asked for in Step 2(c), you may choose Step 2(b) as
an alternative; if you have concerns with providing the
information asked for in Step 4(a), you may enter an additional
amount you want withheld per pay period in Step 4(c) as an
alternative.
When to use the estimator. Consider using the estimator at
www.irs.gov/W4App if you:
1. Are submitting this form after the beginning of the year;
2. Expect to work only part of the year;
3. Have changes during the year in your marital status, number
of jobs for you (and/or your spouse if married filing jointly), or
number of dependents, or changes in your deductions or
credits;
4. Receive dividends, capital gains, social security, bonuses, or
business income, or are subject to the Additional Medicare Tax
or Net Investment Income Tax; or
5. Prefer the most accurate withholding for multiple job
situations.
TIP: Have your most recent pay stub(s) from this year available
when using the estimator to account for federal income tax that
has already been withheld this year. At the beginning of next
year, use the estimator again to recheck your withholding.
Self-employment. Generally, you will owe both income and
self-employment taxes on any self-employment income you
receive separate from the wages you receive as an employee. If
you want to pay these taxes through withholding from your
wages, use the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App to figure the
amount to have withheld.
Nonresident alien. If you’re a nonresident alien, see Notice
1392, Supplemental Form W-4 Instructions for Nonresident
Aliens, before completing this form.
Specific Instructions
Step 1(c). Check your anticipated filing status. This will
determine the standard deduction and tax rates used to
compute your withholding.
Step 2. Use this step if you (1) have more than one job at the
same time, or (2) are married filing jointly and you and your
spouse both work. Submit a separate Form W-4 for each job.
Option (a) most accurately calculates the additional tax you
need to have withheld, while option (b) does so with a little less
accuracy.
Instead, if you (and your spouse) have a total of only two jobs,
you may check the box in option (c). The box must also be
checked on the Form W-4 for the other job. If the box is
checked, the standard deduction and tax brackets will be cut in
half for each job to calculate withholding. This option is accurate
for jobs with similar pay; otherwise, more tax than necessary
may be withheld, and this extra amount of tax withheld will be
larger the greater the difference in pay is between the two jobs.
▲!
CAUTION
Multiple jobs. Complete Steps 3 through 4(b) on only
one Form W-4. Withholding will be most accurate if you
do this on the Form W-4 for the highest paying job.
Step 3. This step provides instructions for determining the
amount of the child tax credit and the credit for other dependents
that you may be able to claim when you file your tax return. To
qualify for the child tax credit, the child must be under age 17 as
of December 31, must be your dependent who generally lives
with you for more than half the year, and must have the required
social security number. You (and/or your spouse if married filing
jointly) must have the required social security number to claim
certain credits. You may be able to claim a credit for other
dependents for whom a child tax credit can’t be claimed, such
as an older child or a qualifying relative. For additional eligibility
requirements for these credits, see Pub. 501, Dependents,
Standard Deduction, and Filing Information. You can also
include other tax credits for which you are eligible in this step,
such as the foreign tax credit and the education tax credits. To
do so, add an estimate of the amount for the year to your credits
for dependents and enter the total amount in Step 3. Including
these credits will increase your paycheck and reduce the amount
of any refund you may receive when you file your tax return.
Step 4.
Step 4(a). Enter in this step the total of your other estimated
income for the year, if any. You shouldn’t include income from
any jobs or self-employment. If you complete Step 4(a), you
likely won’t have to make estimated tax payments for that
income. If you prefer to pay estimated tax rather than having tax
on other income withheld from your paycheck, see Form
1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals.
Step 4(b). Enter in this step the amount from the Deductions
Worksheet, line 15, if you expect to claim deductions other than
the basic standard deduction on your 2026 tax return and want
to reduce your withholding to account for these deductions.
This includes both itemized deductions and other deductions
such as for qualified tips, overtime compensation, and
passenger vehicle loan interest; student loan interest; IRAs; and
seniors. You (and/or your spouse if married filing jointly) must
have the required social security number to claim certain
deductions. For additional eligibility requirements, see Pub. 501.
Step 4(c). Enter in this step any additional tax you want
withheld from your pay each pay period, including any amounts
from the Multiple Jobs Worksheet, line 4. Entering an amount
here will reduce your paycheck and will either increase your
refund or reduce any amount of tax that you owe when you file
your tax return.
Form W-4 (2026)Page 3
Step 2(b)—Multiple Jobs Worksheet (Keep for your records.)
If you choose the option in Step 2(b) on Form W-4, complete this worksheet (which calculates the total extra tax for all jobs) on only
ONE Form W-4. Withholding will be most accurate if you complete the worksheet and enter the result on the Form W-4 for the highest
paying job. To be accurate, submit a new Form W-4 for all other jobs if you have not updated your withholding since 2019.
Note: If more than one job has annual wages of more than $120,000 or there are more than three jobs, see Pub. 505 for additional
tables; or, you can use the online withholding estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App.
1
Two jobs. If you have two jobs or you’re married filing jointly and you and your spouse each have one
job, find the amount from the appropriate table on page 5. Using the “Higher Paying Job” row and the
“Lower Paying Job” column, find the value at the intersection of the two household salaries and enter
that value on line 1. Then, skip to line 3 .....................1 $
2 Three jobs. If you and/or your spouse have three jobs at the same time, complete lines 2a, 2b, and
2c below. Otherwise, skip to line 3.
a
Find the amount from the appropriate table on page 5 using the annual wages from the highest
paying job in the “Higher Paying Job” row and the annual wages for your next highest paying job
in the “Lower Paying Job” column. Find the value at the intersection of the two household salaries
and enter that value on line 2a .......................2a $
b
Add the annual wages of the two highest paying jobs from line 2a together and use the total as the
wages in the “Higher Paying Job” row and use the annual wages for your third job in the “Lower
Paying Job” column to find the amount from the appropriate table on page 5 and enter this amount
on line 2b .............................2b $
c Add the amounts from lines 2a and 2b and enter the result on line 2c ..........2c $
3 Enter the number of pay periods per year for the highest paying job. For example, if that job pays
weekly, enter 52; if it pays every other week, enter 26; if it pays monthly, enter 12, etc. .....3
4
Divide the annual amount on line 1 or line 2c by the number of pay periods on line 3. Enter this
amount here and in Step 4(c) of Form W-4 for the highest paying job (plus any other additional
amount you want withheld) .........................4 $
Form W-4 (2026)Page 4
Step 4(b)—Deductions Worksheet (Keep for your records.)
See the Instructions for Schedule 1-A (Form 1040) for more information about whether you qualify for the deductions on lines 1a, 1b,
1c, 3a, and 3b.
1 Deductions for qualified tips, overtime compensation, and passenger vehicle loan interest.
a Qualified tips. If your total income is less than $150,000 ($300,000 if married filing jointly), enter
an estimate of your qualified tips up to $25,000 .................1a $
b
Qualified overtime compensation. If your total income is less than $150,000 ($300,000 if married
filing jointly), enter an estimate of your qualified overtime compensation up to $12,500 ($25,000 if
married filing jointly) of the “and-a-half” portion of time-and-a-half compensation ......1b $
c Qualified passenger vehicle loan interest. If your total income is less than $100,000 ($200,000 if
married filing jointly), enter an estimate of your qualified passenger vehicle loan interest up to $10,000 1c $
2 Add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c. Enter the result here ...................2 $
3 Seniors age 65 or older. If your total income is less than $75,000 ($150,000 if married filing jointly):
a Enter $6,000 if you are age 65 or older before the end of the year ...........3a $
b Enter $6,000 if your spouse is age 65 or older before the end of the year and has a social security
number valid for employment .......................3b $
4 Add lines 3a and 3b. Enter the result here ....................4 $
5
Enter an estimate of your student loan interest, deductible IRA contributions, educator expenses,
alimony paid, and certain other adjustments from Schedule 1 (Form 1040), Part II. See Pub. 505 for
more information ............................5 $
6 Itemized deductions. Enter an estimate of your 2026 itemized deductions from Schedule A (Form
1040). Such deductions may include qualifying:
a Medical and dental expenses. Enter expenses in excess of 7.5% (0.075) of your total income .6a $
b State and local taxes. If your total income is less than $505,000 ($252,500 if married filing
separately), enter state and local taxes paid up to $40,400 ($20,200 if married filing separately) .6b $
c
Home mortgage interest. If your home acquisition debt is less than $750,000 ($375,000 if
married filing separately), enter your home mortgage interest expense (including mortgage
insurance premiums) ..........................6c $
d Gifts to charities. Enter contributions in excess of 0.5% (0.005) of your total income ....6d $
e Other itemized deductions. Enter the amount for other itemized deductions .......6e $
7 Add lines 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e. Enter the result here ................7 $
8 Limitation on itemized deductions.
a Enter your total income .........................8a $
b Subtract line 4 from line 8a. If line 4 is greater than line 8a, enter -0- here and on line 10. Skip line 9 8b $
9 Enter:{• $768,700 if you’re married filing jointly or a qualifying surviving spouse
• $640,600 if you’re single or head of household
• $384,350 if you’re married filing separately }.....9 $
10 If line 9 is greater than line 8b, enter the amount from line 7. Otherwise, multiply line 7 by 94% (0.94)
and enter the result here ..........................10 $
11 Standard deduction.
Enter:{• $32,200 if you’re married filing jointly or a qualifying surviving spouse
• $24,150 if you’re head of household
• $16,100 if you’re single or married filing separately }.....11 $
12 Cash gifts to charities. If you take the standard deduction, enter cash contributions up to $1,000
($2,000 if married filing jointly) ........................12 $
13 Add lines 11 and 12. Enter the result here ....................13 $
14 If line 10 is greater than line 13, subtract line 11 from line 10 and enter the result here. If line 13 is
greater than line 10, enter the amount from line 12 .................14 $
15 Add lines 2, 4, 5, and 14. Enter the result here and in Step 4(b) of Form W-4 .........15 $
Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for the information on
this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. Internal Revenue
Code sections 3402(f)(2) and 6109 and their regulations require you to provide this
information; your employer uses it to determine your federal income tax withholding.
Failure to provide a properly completed form will result in your being treated as a
single person with no other entries on the form; providing fraudulent information may
subject you to penalties. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the
Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation; to cities, states, the District of
Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories for use in administering their tax
laws; and to the Department of Health and Human Services for use in the National
Directory of New Hires. We may also disclose this information to other countries
under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal
laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.
You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB
control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be
retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of
any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are
confidential, as required by Code section 6103.
The average time and expenses required to complete and file this form will vary
depending on individual circumstances. For estimated averages, see the
instructions for your income tax return.
If you have suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear
from you. See the instructions for your income tax return.
Form W-4 (2026)Page 5
Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Surviving Spouse
Higher Paying Job
Annual Taxable
Wage & Salary
Lower Paying Job Annual Taxable Wage & Salary
$0 -
9,999
$10,000 -
19,999
$20,000 -
29,999
$30,000 -
39,999
$40,000 -
49,999
$50,000 -
59,999
$60,000 -
69,999
$70,000 -
79,999
$80,000 -
89,999
$90,000 -
99,999
$100,000 -
109,999
$110,000 -
120,000
$0 - 9,999 $0 $0 $480 $850 $850 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020
$10,000 - 19,999 0 480 1,480 1,850 2,050 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,620
$20,000 - 29,999 480 1,480 2,480 3,050 3,250 3,420 3,420 3,420 3,420 3,420 3,820 4,820
$30,000 - 39,999 850 1,850 3,050 3,620 3,820 3,990 3,990 3,990 3,990 4,390 5,390 6,390
$40,000 - 49,999 850 2,050 3,250 3,820 4,020 4,190 4,190 4,190 4,590 5,590 6,590 7,590
$50,000 - 59,999 1,020 2,220 3,420 3,990 4,190 4,360 4,360 4,760 5,760 6,760 7,760 8,760
$60,000 - 69,999 1,020 2,220 3,420 3,990 4,190 4,360 4,760 5,760 6,760 7,760 8,760 9,760
$70,000 - 79,999 1,020 2,220 3,420 3,990 4,190 4,760 5,760 6,760 7,760 8,760 9,760 10,760
$80,000 - 99,999 1,020 2,220 3,420 4,240 5,440 6,610 7,610 8,610 9,610 10,610 11,610 12,610
$100,000 - 149,999 1,870 4,070 6,270 7,840 9,040 10,210 11,210 12,210 13,210 14,210 15,360 16,560
$150,000 - 239,999 1,870 4,100 6,500 8,270 9,670 11,040 12,240 13,440 14,640 15,840 17,040 18,240
$240,000 - 319,999 2,040 4,440 6,840 8,610 10,010 11,380 12,580 13,780 14,980 16,180 17,380 18,580
$320,000 - 364,999 2,040 4,440 6,840 8,610 10,010 11,380 12,580 13,860 15,860 17,860 19,860 21,860
$365,000 - 524,999 2,720 5,920 9,390 12,260 14,760 17,230 19,530 21,830 24,130 26,430 28,730 31,030
$525,000 and over 3,140 6,840 10,540 13,610 16,310 18,980 21,480 23,980 26,480 28,980 31,480 33,990
Single or Married Filing Separately
Higher Paying Job
Annual Taxable
Wage & Salary
Lower Paying Job Annual Taxable Wage & Salary
$0 -
9,999
$10,000 -
19,999
$20,000 -
29,999
$30,000 -
39,999
$40,000 -
49,999
$50,000 -
59,999
$60,000 -
69,999
$70,000 -
79,999
$80,000 -
89,999
$90,000 -
99,999
$100,000 -
109,999
$110,000 -
120,000
$0 - 9,999 $90 $850 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,070 $1,870 $1,870 $1,870 $1,870 $1,870 $1,970
$10,000 - 19,999 850 1,780 1,980 1,980 2,030 3,030 3,830 3,830 3,830 3,830 3,930 4,130
$20,000 - 29,999 1,020 1,980 2,180 2,230 3,230 4,230 5,030 5,030 5,030 5,130 5,330 5,530
$30,000 - 39,999 1,020 1,980 2,230 3,230 4,230 5,230 6,030 6,030 6,130 6,330 6,530 6,730
$40,000 - 59,999 1,020 2,880 4,080 5,080 6,080 7,080 7,950 8,150 8,350 8,550 8,750 8,950
$60,000 - 79,999 1,870 3,830 5,030 6,030 7,100 8,300 9,300 9,500 9,700 9,900 10,100 10,300
$80,000 - 99,999 1,870 3,830 5,100 6,300 7,500 8,700 9,700 9,900 10,100 10,300 10,500 10,700
$100,000 - 124,999 2,030 4,190 5,590 6,790 7,990 9,190 10,190 10,390 10,590 10,940 11,940 12,940
$125,000 - 149,999 2,040 4,200 5,600 6,800 8,000 9,200 10,200 10,950 11,950 12,950 13,950 14,950
$150,000 - 174,999 2,040 4,200 5,600 6,800 8,150 10,150 11,950 12,950 13,950 14,950 16,170 17,470
$175,000 - 199,999 2,040 4,200 6,150 8,150 10,150 12,150 13,950 15,020 16,320 17,620 18,920 20,220
$200,000 - 249,999 2,720 5,680 7,880 10,140 12,440 14,740 16,840 18,140 19,440 20,740 22,040 23,340
$250,000 - 449,999 2,970 6,230 8,730 11,030 13,330 15,630 17,730 19,030 20,330 21,630 22,930 24,240
$450,000 and over 3,140 6,600 9,300 11,800 14,300 16,800 19,100 20,600 22,100 23,600 25,100 26,610
Head of Household
Higher Paying Job
Annual Taxable
Wage & Salary
Lower Paying Job Annual Taxable Wage & Salary
$0 -
9,999
$10,000 -
19,999
$20,000 -
29,999
$30,000 -
39,999
$40,000 -
49,999
$50,000 -
59,999
$60,000 -
69,999
$70,000 -
79,999
$80,000 -
89,999
$90,000 -
99,999
$100,000 -
109,999
$110,000 -
120,000
$0 - 9,999 $0 $280 $850 $950 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,560 $1,870 $1,870 $1,870
$10,000 - 19,999 280 1,280 1,950 2,150 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,760 3,760 4,070 4,070 4,210
$20,000 - 29,999 850 1,950 2,720 2,920 2,980 2,980 3,520 4,520 5,520 5,830 5,980 6,180
$30,000 - 39,999 950 2,150 2,920 3,120 3,180 3,720 4,720 5,720 6,720 7,180 7,380 7,580
$40,000 - 59,999 1,020 2,220 2,980 3,570 4,640 5,640 6,640 7,750 8,950 9,460 9,660 9,860
$60,000 - 79,999 1,020 2,610 4,370 5,570 6,640 7,750 8,950 10,150 11,350 11,860 12,060 12,260
$80,000 - 99,999 1,870 4,070 5,830 7,150 8,410 9,610 10,810 12,010 13,210 13,720 13,920 14,120
$100,000 - 124,999 1,870 4,270 6,230 7,630 8,900 10,100 11,300 12,500 13,700 14,210 14,720 15,720
$125,000 - 149,999 2,040 4,440 6,400 7,800 9,070 10,270 11,470 12,670 14,580 15,890 16,890 17,890
$150,000 - 174,999 2,040 4,440 6,400 7,800 9,070 10,580 12,580 14,580 16,580 17,890 18,890 20,170
$175,000 - 199,999 2,040 4,440 6,400 8,510 10,580 12,580 14,580 16,580 18,710 20,320 21,620 22,920
$200,000 - 249,999 2,720 5,920 8,680 10,900 13,270 15,570 17,870 20,170 22,470 24,080 25,380 26,680
$250,000 - 449,999 2,970 6,470 9,540 12,040 14,410 16,710 19,010 21,310 23,610 25,220 26,520 27,820
$450,000 and over 3,140 6,840 10,110 12,810 15,380 17,880 20,380 22,880 25,380 27,190 28,690 30,190