w4 help

[treefrog1]

I haven't changed my w4 for the 15 years that I have been with the same employer. I claim 3 allowances and have always gotten back a decent amount which I use to help pay my mortgage throughout the year. Over the 15 years, I had a baby, my oldest child turned 18, and my mom passed away, who I claimed as a dependent on my taxes. Last year, my oldest child moved out, my middle child turned 18, and my baby turned 11 in January of this year.  I started a part time job in February working about 8 hours a week. Should I change my w4 and if so, to what? I still need to get back enough to help me with the mortgage but also have enough during the week to survive on. 

[MinhT1]

Yes.

The W-4 has changed.

You list your number of dependents. Now you enter your dependent and other credits in dollars.

Here is the new form W-4 with its instructions.

You should print it out, read the instructions and fill this form which must then be transmitted to your employer.

[treefrog1]

I understand. However, when I used a calculator on the IRS website to predict my refund next year, it was considerably less than I got the last two years. I was wondering what I could do to keep it at the same amount or close to the same refund amount as the last year. 

[DianeW777]

Compare the amount of your federal withholdings to last year if you can so you have a starting point. You can use 'Extra withholding', Line 4(c) to add more federal withholding each pay period. If you take the result from the IRS calculator, then subtract the difference for the actual refund you received this year, then divide that by the remaining pay periods for 2025, then put that figure on your W-4, Line 4(c).

You are allowed to change your W-4 as many times as you need to during the year and your employer must make the changes requested.

@treefrog1