Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate

Form W-4 (2011)
Purpose. Complete Form W-4 so that your
employer can withhold the correct federal
income tax from your pay. Consider completing a
new Form W-4 each year and when your
personal or financial situation changes.
Exemption from withholding. If you are exempt,
complete only lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 and sign
the form to validate it. Your exemption for 2011
expires February 16, 2012. See Pub. 505, Tax
Withholding and Estimated Tax.
Note. If another person can claim you as a
dependent on his or her tax return, you cannot
claim exemption from withholding if your income
exceeds $950 and includes more than $300 of
unearned income (for example, interest and
dividends).
Basic instructions. If you are not exempt,
complete the Personal Allowances Worksheet
below. The worksheets on page 2 further adjust
your withholding allowances based on itemized
deductions, certain credits, adjustments to
income, or two-earners/multiple jobs situations.

Complete all worksheets that apply. However,
you may claim fewer (or zero) allowances. For
regular wages, withholding must be based on
allowances you claimed and may not be a flat
amount or percentage of wages.
Head of household. Generally, you may claim
head of household filing status on your tax return
only if you are unmarried and pay more than
50% of the costs of keeping up a home for
yourself and your dependent(s) or other
qualifying individuals. See Pub. 501, Exemptions,
Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, for
information.
Tax credits. You can take projected tax credits
into account in figuring your allowable number of
withholding allowances. Credits for child or
dependent care expenses and the child tax
credit may be claimed using the Personal
Allowances Worksheet below. See Pub. 919,
How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding, for
information on converting your other credits into
withholding allowances.
Nonwage income. If you have a large amount of
nonwage income, such as interest or dividends,
consider making estimated tax payments using

Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals.
Otherwise, you may owe additional tax. If you
have pension or annuity income, see Pub. 919 to
find out if you should adjust your withholding on
Form W-4 or W-4P.
Two earners or multiple jobs. If you have a
working spouse or more than one job, figure the
total number of allowances you are entitled to
claim on all jobs using worksheets from only one
Form W-4. Your withholding usually will be most
accurate when all allowances are claimed on the
Form W-4 for the highest paying job and zero
allowances are claimed on the others. See Pub.
919 for details.
Nonresident alien. If you are a nonresident alien,
see Notice 1392, Supplemental Form W-4
Instructions for Nonresident Aliens, before
completing this form.
Check your withholding. After your Form W-4
takes effect, use Pub. 919 to see how the
amount you are having withheld compares to
your projected total tax for 2011. See Pub. 919,
especially if your earnings exceed $130,000
(Single) or $180,000 (Married).

Personal Allowances Worksheet (Keep for your records.)
A

Enter “1” for yourself if no one else can claim you as a dependent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A
• You are single and have only one job; or
Enter “1” if:
B
• You are married, have only one job, and your spouse does not work; or
. . .
• Your wages from a second job or your spouse’s wages (or the total of both) are $1,500 or less.
Enter “1” for your spouse. But, you may choose to enter “-0-” if you are married and have either a working spouse or more
than one job. (Entering “-0-” may help you avoid having too little tax withheld.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C
Enter number of dependents (other than your spouse or yourself) you will claim on your tax return . . . . . . . .
D
Enter “1” if you will file as head of household on your tax return (see conditions under Head of household above) . .
E
Enter “1” if you have at least $1,900 of child or dependent care expenses for which you plan to claim a credit
. . .
F
(Note. Do not include child support payments. See Pub. 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses, for details.)
Child Tax Credit (including additional child tax credit). See Pub. 972, Child Tax Credit, for more information.
• If your total income will be less than $61,000 ($90,000 if married), enter “2” for each eligible child; then less “1” if you have three or more eligible children.
• If your total income will be between $61,000 and $84,000 ($90,000 and $119,000 if married), enter “1” for each eligible
child plus “1” additional if you have six or more eligible children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G
Add lines A through G and enter total here. (Note. This may be different from the number of exemptions you claim on your tax return.) ▶ H
• If you plan to itemize or claim adjustments to income and want to reduce your withholding, see the Deductions
For accuracy,
and Adjustments Worksheet on page 2.
complete all
• If you have more than one job or are married and you and your spouse both work and the combined earnings from all jobs exceed
worksheets
$40,000 ($10,000 if married), see the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet on page 2 to avoid having too little tax withheld.
that apply.
• If neither of the above situations applies, stop here and enter the number from line H on line 5 of Form W-4 below.

{

B
C
D
E
F
G

H

}

{

Cut here and give Form W-4 to your employer. Keep the top part for your records.
Form

W-4

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

1

Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate

OMB No. 1545-0074

▶ Whether you are entitled to claim a certain number of allowances or exemption from withholding is

2011

subject to review by the IRS. Your employer may be required to send a copy of this form to the IRS.
Type or print your first name and middle initial.
Last name
2 Your social security number

Home address (number and street or rural route)

3

Single

Married

Married, but withhold at higher Single rate.

Note. If married, but legally separated, or spouse is a nonresident alien, check the “Single” box.
City or town, state, and ZIP code

4 If your last name differs from that shown on your social security card,
check here. You must call 1-800-772-1213 for a replacement card. ▶

5
6
7

Total number of allowances you are claiming (from line H above or from the applicable worksheet on page 2)
5
6 $
Additional amount, if any, you want withheld from each paycheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I claim exemption from withholding for 2011, and I certify that I meet both of the following conditions for exemption.
• Last year I had a right to a refund of all federal income tax withheld because I had no tax liability and
• This year I expect a refund of all federal income tax withheld because I expect to have no tax liability.
If you meet both conditions, write “Exempt” here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ▶ 7

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certificate and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete.

Employee’s signature
(This form is not valid unless you sign it.)
8

Date ▶

▶

Employer’s name and address (Employer: Complete lines 8 and 10 only if sending to the IRS.)

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see page 2.

9 Office code (optional)

Cat. No. 10220Q

10

Employer identification number (EIN)
Form W-4 (2011)

Page 2

Form W-4 (2011)

Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet
Note. Use this worksheet only if you plan to itemize deductions or claim certain credits or adjustments to income.
1

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Enter an estimate of your 2011 itemized deductions. These include qualifying home mortgage interest,
charitable contributions, state and local taxes, medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your income, and
miscellaneous deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$11,600 if married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)
Enter:
$8,500 if head of household
. . . . . . . . . . .
$5,800 if single or married filing separately
Subtract line 2 from line 1. If zero or less, enter “-0-” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Enter an estimate of your 2011 adjustments to income and any additional standard deduction (see Pub. 919)
Add lines 3 and 4 and enter the total. (Include any amount for credits from the Converting Credits to
Withholding Allowances for 2011 Form W-4 Worksheet in Pub. 919.)
. . . . . . . . . . .

{

}

Enter an estimate of your 2011 nonwage income (such as dividends or interest) . . . . . . . .
Subtract line 6 from line 5. If zero or less, enter “-0-” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Divide the amount on line 7 by $3,700 and enter the result here. Drop any fraction . . . . . . .
Enter the number from the Personal Allowances Worksheet, line H, page 1 . . . . . . . . .
Add lines 8 and 9 and enter the total here. If you plan to use the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet,
also enter this total on line 1 below. Otherwise, stop here and enter this total on Form W-4, line 5, page 1

1

$

2

$

3
4

$
$

5
6
7
8
9

$
$
$

10

Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet (See Two earners or multiple jobs on page 1.)
Note. Use this worksheet only if the instructions under line H on page 1 direct you here.
Enter the number from line H, page 1 (or from line 10 above if you used the Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet)
1
2
Find the number in Table 1 below that applies to the LOWEST paying job and enter it here. However, if
you are married filing jointly and wages from the highest paying job are $65,000 or less, do not enter more
than “3” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3

1

2

If line 1 is more than or equal to line 2, subtract line 2 from line 1. Enter the result here (if zero, enter
“-0-”) and on Form W-4, line 5, page 1. Do not use the rest of this worksheet . . . . . . . . .

3
Note. If line 1 is less than line 2, enter “-0-” on Form W-4, line 5, page 1. Complete lines 4 through 9 below to figure the additional
withholding amount necessary to avoid a year-end tax bill.
4
5
6
7
8
9

Enter the number from line 2 of this worksheet . . . . . . . . . .
4
Enter the number from line 1 of this worksheet . . . . . . . . . .
5
Subtract line 5 from line 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Find the amount in Table 2 below that applies to the HIGHEST paying job and enter it here . . . .
Multiply line 7 by line 6 and enter the result here. This is the additional annual withholding needed . .
Divide line 8 by the number of pay periods remaining in 2011. For example, divide by 26 if you are paid
every two weeks and you complete this form in December 2010. Enter the result here and on Form W-4,
line 6, page 1. This is the additional amount to be withheld from each paycheck . . . . . . . .

Table 1
Married Filing Jointly
If wages from LOWEST
paying job are—

Enter on
line 2 above

6
7
8

$
$

9

$

Table 2
All Others

If wages from LOWEST
paying job are—

Married Filing Jointly
Enter on
line 2 above

$0 - $5,000 0
$0 - $8,000 0
1
8,001 - 15,000 1
5,001 - 12,000 2
15,001 - 25,000 2
12,001 - 22,000 3
25,001 - 30,000 3
22,001 - 25,000 4
30,001 - 40,000 4
25,001 - 30,000 5
40,001 - 50,000 5
30,001 - 40,000 6
50,001 - 65,000 6
40,001 - 48,000 7
65,001 - 80,000 7
48,001 - 55,000 8
80,001 - 95,000 8
55,001 - 65,000 9
95,001 -120,000 9
65,001 - 72,000 10
120,001 and over
10
72,001 - 85,000 11
85,001 - 97,000 12
97,001 -110,000 13
110,001 -120,000 14
120,001 -135,000 15
135,001 and over
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 who claims no withholding
allowances; 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 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 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.

If wages from HIGHEST
paying job are—
$0
65,001
125,001
185,001
335,001

- $65,000
- 125,000
- 185,000
- 335,000
and over

Enter on
line 7 above
$560
930
1,040
1,220
1,300

All Others
If wages from HIGHEST
paying job are—
$0
35,001
90,001
165,001
370,001

- $35,000
- 90,000
- 165,000
- 370,000
and over

Enter on
line 7 above
$560
930
1,040
1,220
1,300

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.