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New Member
posted Jun 7, 2019 4:27:21 PM

I accidentally claimed Exempt on w-4. so obviously I'm going to owe taxes. Does that come straight out of the return?

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:22 PM

If you did not have any tax withheld from your wages--you say you claimed "exempt" (which was a big mistake)--then there is nothing from which to give you a refund. You only get a refund if the taxes withheld are more than the tax you owed to the iRS.  Does box 2 of your W-2 have a zero or is it blank?  If you have a tax liability then you will owe the IRS and will need to pay by check, money order or credit card.

Going forward, do not claim to be exempt.  There could be a penalty for saying that if it is not true.

24 Replies
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:22 PM

If you did not have any tax withheld from your wages--you say you claimed "exempt" (which was a big mistake)--then there is nothing from which to give you a refund. You only get a refund if the taxes withheld are more than the tax you owed to the iRS.  Does box 2 of your W-2 have a zero or is it blank?  If you have a tax liability then you will owe the IRS and will need to pay by check, money order or credit card.

Going forward, do not claim to be exempt.  There could be a penalty for saying that if it is not true.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:24 PM

Box 2 of my w2 is just blank. I've filed taxes and Turbo tax is saying I have a refund. Which isn't as much as it usually is. And I'm getting it's because of that error.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:25 PM

Are you claiming any dependents for which you are getting child-related credits like child tax credit or earned income credit?

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:27 PM

I'm claiming both child tax credit and earned income. Filing stat is head of house. Which I qualified for all tax breaks.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:30 PM

Maybe exempt is the correct status for you. Did you work all of 2017?

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:35 PM

8 months out of 2017.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:35 PM

I made over 15k, I don't think I'm exempt.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:37 PM

Instead of claiming exempt, you could enter extra allowances to limit how much is withheld from your paycheck,  In your case, you are OK, since you have enough  personal exemptions,  standard deduction,  & credits, etc to keep your income from being taxable.  But if your income increases, be careful about saying you are exempt.  With the new tax laws it will be interesting.  New W-4's will be coming out soon and there will be no personal exemptions.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:39 PM

So it's likely I won't owe money?

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:40 PM

You said above that you are getting a refund.  You do not owe..yay!  With your standard deduction of $9350 for HOH, personal exemptions of $4050 each  for yourself and at least one child (or more?) and CTC, EIC, you are good.  You had no taxable income at all, and you get a refund because of the EIC.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:41 PM

Xmasbaby0 thank you!

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:27:43 PM

You are welcome.

New Member
Aug 3, 2019 6:29:07 PM

Hello I recently saw your discussion which was a month ago but I'm a single person with no kids and I want to claim EXEMPT is it possible I will owe during tax time? And if so how much? Please write back somebody lol

Level 15
Aug 3, 2019 6:39:08 PM

You can only file exempt under special circumstances.  Not sure what they all are.  It's better to claim more allowances than you need to have less taken out.  If you make over 12,000 (the Standard Deduction for Single) you will owe tax on the amount over 12,000.  The IRS wants you to pay the tax in evenly during the year and not all at once on your tax return.   If you don't you may owe a penalty if you owe too much.

New Member
Aug 3, 2019 6:55:08 PM

Not quite understanding I apologize it's all so overwhelming I was researching and I was qualified stating that if the following 1. I received a refund for last year without tax liability meaming I didn't OWE and 2. IF I anticipate on receiving a federal refund next year. So I already did it but am I allowed to change it on my W4 form I'm starting a new job btw.

New Member
Nov 8, 2019 7:43:00 PM

I claimed exemption on accedent too all last year  and I haven’t yet filed the tax w4 yet I’m so scared to do it because I researched and it’s considered tax fraud because I saw the pay stub it says exempt 99 I don’t o ow what that means and I claimed exemption all that year and a few months after but changed to single and claimed myself when I found this out please help I’m scared I might go to prison I wasn’t trying to do anything wrong I thought I qualified for being exempt because a co worker recommended it and it didn’t get me anywhere?? 

New Member
Mar 18, 2020 6:16:01 PM

Yes I accidentally had 0.00 tax's witheld and I filled out a W4 with my Employer.

Intuit Alumni
Mar 18, 2020 6:23:47 PM

@stargirl1990 Try the IRS W-4 calculator: Tax Withholding Estimator

Please see the additional information below on W-4's:

What to know about the new 2020 IRS Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate

New Member
May 6, 2020 1:43:32 PM

Hello I accidentally claimed exempt on my w2 can I change it back? 

Level 15
May 6, 2020 1:45:40 PM

Yes.  Give your employer a new W4.  But that is only for future paychecks and won't affect your 2019 return.

New Member
Jul 14, 2020 5:51:56 PM

Made a mistake on my W-4 and filed Exemp. I am paying now the taxes I owed the federal government in 2019. However, I didn't notice the mistake till yesterday so my 2020 Tax Returns so I'd like to avoid another large amount of money being due next year.

 

Is there anyway I can proactively pay for the amount of taxes I've missed in the past 6 months of 2020? Essentially tru-ing up.

 

 

Level 15
Jul 14, 2020 5:57:34 PM

Yes you should! Send in an estimated payment.

Here are the blank Estimates and instructions…..

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf

 

The 1040ES quarterly estimates are due April 15, 2020, June 15, Sept 15 and Jan 15, 2021.   The first quarter is not due until July 15 this year.  Your state will also have their own estimate forms.

 

Or you can pay directly on the IRS website https://www.irs.gov/payments

Be sure to pick the right kind of payment and year.....2020 Estimate

New Member
Jul 14, 2020 6:15:55 PM

This is fantastic, thank you very much!

 

Is there a way to do in with in my 2019 returns or does it need to be a separate payment?

Level 15
Jul 14, 2020 6:20:04 PM

Separate from 2019.  Each year is separate.