Fill out your W-4 the easy way
Answer a few simple questions. We will tell you exactly what to write on every line of your IRS W-4 form — in plain English, in under 2 minutes.
Start the W-4 Tool →What is your tax filing status?
This matches the box you will check on Step 1(c) of the W-4.
Do you have more than one job, or does your spouse also work?
Answer "yes" if you work two jobs, or if you are married filing jointly and your spouse earns income.
Multi-income households need a different tool
When more than one person in your household earns income, the W-4 math gets complicated — withholding for two jobs can easily be too low if each employer thinks they are your only job.
Use the free IRS Tax Withholding Estimator:
Our simple tool is designed for single-earner households. We may add multi-job support in the future.
Can anyone claim you as a dependent on their tax return?
Most commonly: you are a student or young adult and your parents claim you.
Did you owe federal income tax last year?
This is about federal income tax only — not Social Security or Medicare. If you got all the federal income tax you paid back as a refund, the answer is "No, I owed nothing."
How many qualifying children under 17 do you have?
Count children who live with you, are under 17 at the end of the year, and who you claim as dependents. Each counts as $2,000 on the W-4.
How many other dependents do you have?
Children 17 or older, elderly parents you support, or other qualifying relatives. Each counts as $500 on the W-4.
Under 2 minutes
Quick questions in plain English — no tax jargon.
Mobile-first
Built for your phone. Fill out your W-4 while you are at the kitchen table.
Private
Nothing you enter is saved, tracked, or sent anywhere.
What the W-4 actually does
Your IRS Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from every paycheck. Fill it out well, and your withholding matches what you actually owe — meaning no nasty bill in April and no giant interest-free loan to the government.
Since 2020, the W-4 no longer uses "allowance numbers" (0, 1, 2…). Instead, it asks for dollar amounts: how much you earn from other jobs, how many dependents you have, and whether you want any extra withheld. The new form is more accurate — but the instructions are famously confusing. That is why this site exists.