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Tax Witholding Estimator
Take the guesswork our of paycheck withholding with this hand tool from the IRS
Why Use the Estimator
The IRS encourages everyone to use the Tax Withholding Estimator to perform a “paycheck checkup.” This will help you make sure you have the right amount of tax withheld from your paycheck.
There are several reasons to check your withholding:
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Checking your withholding can help protect against having too little tax withheld and facing an unexpected tax bill or penalty at tax time next year.
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At the same time, you may prefer to have less tax withheld up front, so you receive more in your paychecks and get a smaller refund at tax time.
Before You Begin
Before using the Tax Whiholding Estimator, taxpayers should gather their most recent pay stubs and income documents from all sources. They should gather documents related to pensions, annuities, Social Security benefits, and self-employment income.
Your Information is Private & Anonymous
The IRS Withholding Estimator does not ask for personally-identifiable information, such as a name, Social Security number, address and bank account numbers. The IRS doesn’t save or record the information entered in the Estimator.
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