Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate

Complete Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay.
OMB No. 1545-0074

2021
▶
▶ Give Form W-4 to your employer.
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service ▶ Your withholding is subject to review by the IRS.

(a) First name and middle initial Last name (b) Social security number
Step 1:
Enter Address ▶ Does your name match the
Personal name on your social security
card? If not, to ensure you get
Information City or town, state, and ZIP code 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 widow(er)
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.)

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, when to use the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App, and privacy.

Step 2: Complete this step if you (1) hold more than one job at a time, or (2) are married filing jointly and your spouse
Multiple Jobs also works. The correct amount of withholding depends on income earned from all of these jobs.
or Spouse Do only one of the following.
Works (a) Use the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App for most accurate withholding for this step (and Steps 3–4); or
(b) Use the Multiple Jobs Worksheet on page 3 and enter the result in Step 4(c) below for roughly accurate withholding; 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 accurate for jobs with similar pay; otherwise, more tax than necessary may be withheld . . . . . ▶

TIP: To be accurate, submit a 2021 Form W-4 for all other jobs. If you (or your spouse) have self-employment
income, including as an independent contractor, use the estimator.

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: If your total income will be $200,000 or less ($400,000 or less if married filing jointly):
Claim
Multiply the number of qualifying children under age 17 by $2,000 ▶ $
Dependents
Multiply the number of other dependents by $500 . . . . ▶ $

Add the amounts above and enter the total here . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 $

Step 4 (a) Other income (not from jobs). If you want tax withheld for other income you expect
(optional): this year that won’t have withholding, enter the amount of other income here. This may
include interest, dividends, and retirement income . . . . . . . . . . . . 4(a) $
Other
Adjustments
(b) Deductions. If you expect to claim deductions other than the standard deduction
and want to reduce your withholding, use the Deductions Worksheet on page 3 and
enter the result here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4(b) $

(c) Extra withholding. Enter any additional tax you want withheld each pay period . 4(c) $

Step 5: Under penalties of perjury, I declare that this certificate, to the best of my knowledge and belief, is true, correct, and complete.
Sign
Here
▲

Employee’s signature (This form is not valid unless you sign it.) Date

Employers Employer’s name and address First date of Employer identification

employment number (EIN)
Only

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see page 3. Cat. No. 10220Q Form W-4 (2021)
Form W-4 (2021) Page 2

General Instructions Specific Instructions

Future Developments Step 1(c). Check your anticipated filing status. This will
determine the standard deduction and tax rates used to
For the latest information about developments related to compute your withholding.
Form W-4, such as legislation enacted after it was published,
go to www.irs.gov/FormW4. 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
Purpose of Form spouse both work.
Complete Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the Option (a) most accurately calculates the additional tax
correct federal income tax from your pay. If too little is you need to have withheld, while option (b) does so with a
withheld, you will generally owe tax when you file your tax little less accuracy.
return and may owe a penalty. If too much is withheld, you If you (and your spouse) have a total of only two jobs, you
will generally be due a refund. Complete a new Form W-4 may instead check the box in option (c). The box must also
when changes to your personal or financial situation would be checked on the Form W-4 for the other job. If the box is
change the entries on the form. For more information on checked, the standard deduction and tax brackets will be
withholding and when you must furnish a new Form W-4, cut in half for each job to calculate withholding. This option
see Pub. 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. is roughly accurate for jobs with similar pay; otherwise, more
Exemption from withholding. You may claim exemption tax than necessary may be withheld, and this extra amount
from withholding for 2021 if you meet both of the following will be larger the greater the difference in pay is between the
conditions: you had no federal income tax liability in 2020 two jobs.
and you expect to have no federal income tax liability in Multiple jobs. Complete Steps 3 through 4(b) on only
2021. You had no federal income tax liability in 2020 if (1)
your total tax on line 24 on your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR
▲ ! one Form W-4. Withholding will be most accurate if
CAUTION
you do this on the Form W-4 for the highest paying job.
is zero (or less than the sum of lines 27, 28, 29, and 30), or
(2) you were not required to file a return because your Step 3. This step provides instructions for determining the
income was below the filing threshold for your correct filing amount of the child tax credit and the credit for other
status. If you claim exemption, you will have no income tax dependents that you may be able to claim when you file your
withheld from your paycheck and may owe taxes and tax return. To qualify for the child tax credit, the child must
penalties when you file your 2021 tax return. To claim be under age 17 as of December 31, must be your
exemption from withholding, certify that you meet both of dependent who generally lives with you for more than half
the conditions above by writing “Exempt” on Form W-4 in the year, and must have the required social security number.
the space below Step 4(c). Then, complete Steps 1(a), 1(b), You may be able to claim a credit for other dependents for
and 5. Do not complete any other steps. You will need to whom a child tax credit can’t be claimed, such as an older
submit a new Form W-4 by February 15, 2022. child or a qualifying relative. For additional eligibility
requirements for these credits, see Pub. 972, Child Tax
Your privacy. If you prefer to limit information provided in Credit and Credit for Other Dependents. You can also
Steps 2 through 4, use the online estimator, which will also include other tax credits in this step, such as education tax
increase accuracy. credits and the foreign tax credit. To do so, add an estimate
As an alternative to the estimator: if you have concerns of the amount for the year to your credits for dependents
with Step 2(c), you may choose Step 2(b); if you have and enter the total amount in Step 3. Including these credits
concerns with Step 4(a), you may enter an additional amount will increase your paycheck and reduce the amount of any
you want withheld per pay period in Step 4(c). If this is the refund you may receive when you file your tax return.
only job in your household, you may instead check the box Step 4 (optional).
in Step 2(c), which will increase your withholding and
significantly reduce your paycheck (often by thousands of Step 4(a). Enter in this step the total of your other
dollars over the year). estimated income for the year, if any. You shouldn’t include
income from any jobs or self-employment. If you complete
When to use the estimator. Consider using the estimator at Step 4(a), you likely won’t have to make estimated tax
www.irs.gov/W4App if you: payments for that income. If you prefer to pay estimated tax
1. Expect to work only part of the year; rather than having tax on other income withheld from your
paycheck, see Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals.
2. Have dividend or capital gain income, or are subject to
additional taxes, such as Additional Medicare Tax; Step 4(b). Enter in this step the amount from the Deductions
Worksheet, line 5, if you expect to claim deductions other than
3. Have self-employment income (see below); or
the basic standard deduction on your 2021 tax return and
4. Prefer the most accurate withholding for multiple job want to reduce your withholding to account for these
situations. deductions. This includes both itemized deductions and other
Self-employment. Generally, you will owe both income and deductions such as for student loan interest and IRAs.
self-employment taxes on any self-employment income you Step 4(c). Enter in this step any additional tax you want
receive separate from the wages you receive as an withheld from your pay each pay period, including any
employee. If you want to pay these taxes through amounts from the Multiple Jobs Worksheet, line 4. Entering an
withholding from your wages, use the estimator at amount here will reduce your paycheck and will either increase
www.irs.gov/W4App to figure the amount to have withheld. your refund or reduce any amount of tax that you owe.
Nonresident alien. If you’re a nonresident alien, see Notice
1392, Supplemental Form W-4 Instructions for Nonresident
Aliens, before completing this form.
Form W-4 (2021) 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.

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 4. 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 4 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 4 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 (along with any other additional
amount you want withheld) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 $

Step 4(b)—Deductions Worksheet (Keep for your records.)

1 Enter an estimate of your 2021 itemized deductions (from Schedule A (Form 1040)). Such deductions
may include qualifying home mortgage interest, charitable contributions, state and local taxes (up to
$10,000), and medical expenses in excess of 10% of your income . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 $

{ }
• $25,100 if you’re married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)
2 Enter: • $18,800 if you’re head of household . . . . . . . . 2 $
• $12,550 if you’re single or married filing separately

3 If line 1 is greater than line 2, subtract line 2 from line 1 and enter the result here. If line 2 is greater
than line 1, enter “-0-” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 $

4 Enter an estimate of your student loan interest, deductible IRA contributions, and certain other
adjustments (from Part II of Schedule 1 (Form 1040)). See Pub. 505 for more information . . . . 4 $

5 Add lines 3 and 4. Enter the result here and in Step 4(b) of Form W-4 . . . . . . . . . . . 5 $
Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for the information You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is
on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. Internal subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB
Revenue Code sections 3402(f)(2) and 6109 and their regulations require you to control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be
provide this information; your employer uses it to determine your federal income retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of
tax withholding. Failure to provide a properly completed form will result in your any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are
being treated as a single person with no other entries on the form; providing confidential, as required by Code section 6103.
fraudulent information may subject you to penalties. Routine uses of this The average time and expenses required to complete and file this form will vary
information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal depending on individual circumstances. For estimated averages, see the
litigation; to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and instructions for your income tax return.
possessions 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 If you have suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear
may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal from you. See the instructions for your income tax return.
and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws, or to federal law
enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.
Form W-4 (2021) Page 4
Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Widow(er)
Higher Paying Job Lower Paying Job Annual Taxable Wage & Salary
Annual Taxable $0 - $10,000 - $20,000 - $30,000 - $40,000 - $50,000 - $60,000 - $70,000 - $80,000 - $90,000 - $100,000 - $110,000 -
Wage & Salary 9,999 19,999 29,999 39,999 49,999 59,999 69,999 79,999 89,999 99,999 109,999 120,000
$0 - 9,999 $0 $190 $850 $890 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,100 $1,870 $1,870
$10,000 - 19,999 190 1,190 1,890 2,090 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,300 3,300 4,070 4,070
$20,000 - 29,999 850 1,890 2,750 2,950 3,080 3,080 3,080 3,160 4,160 5,160 5,930 5,930
$30,000 - 39,999 890 2,090 2,950 3,150 3,280 3,280 3,360 4,360 5,360 6,360 7,130 7,130
$40,000 - 49,999 1,020 2,220 3,080 3,280 3,410 3,490 4,490 5,490 6,490 7,490 8,260 8,260
$50,000 - 59,999 1,020 2,220 3,080 3,280 3,490 4,490 5,490 6,490 7,490 8,490 9,260 9,260
$60,000 - 69,999 1,020 2,220 3,080 3,360 4,490 5,490 6,490 7,490 8,490 9,490 10,260 10,260
$70,000 - 79,999 1,020 2,220 3,160 4,360 5,490 6,490 7,490 8,490 9,490 10,490 11,260 11,260
$80,000 - 99,999 1,020 3,150 5,010 6,210 7,340 8,340 9,340 10,340 11,340 12,340 13,260 13,460
$100,000 - 149,999 1,870 4,070 5,930 7,130 8,260 9,320 10,520 11,720 12,920 14,120 15,090 15,290
$150,000 - 239,999 2,040 4,440 6,500 7,900 9,230 10,430 11,630 12,830 14,030 15,230 16,190 16,400
$240,000 - 259,999 2,040 4,440 6,500 7,900 9,230 10,430 11,630 12,830 14,030 15,270 17,040 18,040
$260,000 - 279,999 2,040 4,440 6,500 7,900 9,230 10,430 11,630 12,870 14,870 16,870 18,640 19,640
$280,000 - 299,999 2,040 4,440 6,500 7,900 9,230 10,470 12,470 14,470 16,470 18,470 20,240 21,240
$300,000 - 319,999 2,040 4,440 6,500 7,940 10,070 12,070 14,070 16,070 18,070 20,070 21,840 22,840
$320,000 - 364,999 2,720 5,920 8,780 10,980 13,110 15,110 17,110 19,110 21,190 23,490 25,560 26,860
$365,000 - 524,999 2,970 6,470 9,630 12,130 14,560 16,860 19,160 21,460 23,760 26,060 28,130 29,430
$525,000 and over 3,140 6,840 10,200 12,900 15,530 18,030 20,530 23,030 25,530 28,030 30,300 31,800
Single or Married Filing Separately
Higher Paying Job Lower Paying Job Annual Taxable Wage & Salary
Annual Taxable $0 - $10,000 - $20,000 - $30,000 - $40,000 - $50,000 - $60,000 - $70,000 - $80,000 - $90,000 - $100,000 - $110,000 -
Wage & Salary 9,999 19,999 29,999 39,999 49,999 59,999 69,999 79,999 89,999 99,999 109,999 120,000
$0 - 9,999 $440 $940 $1,020 $1,020 $1,410 $1,870 $1,870 $1,870 $1,870 $2,030 $2,040 $2,040
$10,000 - 19,999 940 1,540 1,620 2,020 3,020 3,470 3,470 3,470 3,640 3,840 3,840 3,840
$20,000 - 29,999 1,020 1,620 2,100 3,100 4,100 4,550 4,550 4,720 4,920 5,120 5,120 5,120
$30,000 - 39,999 1,020 2,020 3,100 4,100 5,100 5,550 5,720 5,920 6,120 6,320 6,320 6,320
$40,000 - 59,999 1,870 3,470 4,550 5,550 6,690 7,340 7,540 7,740 7,940 8,140 8,150 8,150
$60,000 - 79,999 1,870 3,470 4,690 5,890 7,090 7,740 7,940 8,140 8,340 8,540 9,190 9,990
$80,000 - 99,999 2,000 3,810 5,090 6,290 7,490 8,140 8,340 8,540 9,390 10,390 11,190 11,990
$100,000 - 124,999 2,040 3,840 5,120 6,320 7,520 8,360 9,360 10,360 11,360 12,360 13,410 14,510
$125,000 - 149,999 2,040 3,840 5,120 6,910 8,910 10,360 11,360 12,450 13,750 15,050 16,160 17,260
$150,000 - 174,999 2,220 4,830 6,910 8,910 10,910 12,600 13,900 15,200 16,500 17,800 18,910 20,010
$175,000 - 199,999 2,720 5,320 7,490 9,790 12,090 13,850 15,150 16,450 17,750 19,050 20,150 21,250
$200,000 - 249,999 2,970 5,880 8,260 10,560 12,860 14,620 15,920 17,220 18,520 19,820 20,930 22,030
$250,000 - 399,999 2,970 5,880 8,260 10,560 12,860 14,620 15,920 17,220 18,520 19,820 20,930 22,030
$400,000 - 449,999 2,970 5,880 8,260 10,560 12,860 14,620 15,920 17,220 18,520 19,910 21,220 22,520
$450,000 and over 3,140 6,250 8,830 11,330 13,830 15,790 17,290 18,790 20,290 21,790 23,100 24,400
Head of Household
Higher Paying Job Lower Paying Job Annual Taxable Wage & Salary
Annual Taxable $0 - $10,000 - $20,000 - $30,000 - $40,000 - $50,000 - $60,000 - $70,000 - $80,000 - $90,000 - $100,000 - $110,000 -
Wage & Salary 9,999 19,999 29,999 39,999 49,999 59,999 69,999 79,999 89,999 99,999 109,999 120,000
$0 - 9,999 $0 $820 $930 $1,020 $1,020 $1,020 $1,420 $1,870 $1,870 $1,910 $2,040 $2,040
$10,000 - 19,999 820 1,900 2,130 2,220 2,220 2,620 3,620 4,070 4,110 4,310 4,440 4,440
$20,000 - 29,999 930 2,130 2,360 2,450 2,850 3,850 4,850 5,340 5,540 5,740 5,870 5,870
$30,000 - 39,999 1,020 2,220 2,450 2,940 3,940 4,940 5,980 6,630 6,830 7,030 7,160 7,160
$40,000 - 59,999 1,020 2,470 3,700 4,790 5,800 7,000 8,200 8,850 9,050 9,250 9,380 9,380
$60,000 - 79,999 1,870 4,070 5,310 6,600 7,800 9,000 10,200 10,850 11,050 11,250 11,520 12,320
$80,000 - 99,999 1,880 4,280 5,710 7,000 8,200 9,400 10,600 11,250 11,590 12,590 13,520 14,320
$100,000 - 124,999 2,040 4,440 5,870 7,160 8,360 9,560 11,240 12,690 13,690 14,690 15,670 16,770
$125,000 - 149,999 2,040 4,440 5,870 7,240 9,240 11,240 13,240 14,690 15,890 17,190 18,420 19,520
$150,000 - 174,999 2,040 4,920 7,150 9,240 11,240 13,290 15,590 17,340 18,640 19,940 21,170 22,270
$175,000 - 199,999 2,720 5,920 8,150 10,440 12,740 15,040 17,340 19,090 20,390 21,690 22,920 24,020
$200,000 - 249,999 2,970 6,470 9,000 11,390 13,690 15,990 18,290 20,040 21,340 22,640 23,880 24,980
$250,000 - 349,999 2,970 6,470 9,000 11,390 13,690 15,990 18,290 20,040 21,340 22,640 23,880 24,980
$350,000 - 449,999 2,970 6,470 9,000 11,390 13,690 15,990 18,290 20,040 21,340 22,640 23,900 25,200
$450,000 and over 3,140 6,840 9,570 12,160 14,660 17,160 19,660 21,610 23,110 24,610 26,050 27,350