If i make about 54400 a year as a teacher how much do i need to take out per paycheck in order to get a decent refund? we get paid once a month.

[DoninGA]

Use this IRS tax withholding estimator - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator

[xmasbaby0]

That is not enough information.  We do not know your filing status, whether you have dependents, etc. etc.   And.....we do not know what a "decent refund" means to you.   Getting a large refund only means you gave the government an interest free loan all year instead of having access to your money during the year.

Try the W-4 calculator:

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf

[vtec312488]

2 dependants married filing jointly between my wife and I we make about 90k a year

[xmasbaby0]

Again---use the withholding estimator.

[Mike9241]

why do you want the IRS to hold your money for about 1/2 year interest-free? You don't have to answer but that's the effect of getting a refund. the IRS has been holding your excess tax payments interest-free for on average about 1/2 the year. 

[xmasbaby0]

We cannot interpret what you mean by a "decent refund."   We do not know if that means enough to go to Six Flags for a day or a Disney cruise.   Look at how much you had withheld for 2023.   If you want a bigger refund than you are getting for 2023, assuming your income and other circumstances will be similar for 2024, enter an "extra" amount on your W-4 to withhold enough to get the refund amount you want for 2024.