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New Member
posted Jun 4, 2019 7:00:56 PM

What if my w4 been wrong for a year? I made a mistake and put 2 allowances, when i should have put 0. I have no kids or no dependents. How do I go about that?

I don't know how I put 2 allowances when I shouldve put 0 on my w4 form. If you can help me I would very much appreciate it.

0 8 21674
8 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jun 4, 2019 7:00:57 PM

You cannot change your W-4 retroactively. The number of allowances is used to determine the amount of federal tax to be withheld from your paychecks. If you overstated your allowances, you may have too little tax withheld and may have some tax due (and possibly a penalty for under-withholding).

To change your allowances, you need to submit as soon as possible a new W-4 form to your employer.

Please this TurboTax article:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/irs-tax-forms/what-is-a-w-4-form/L2NapDzX2


New Member
Jun 4, 2019 7:00:58 PM

I had the same except issue. Did you find any thing to change ?

New Member
Mar 1, 2022 5:28:34 PM

Did you end up finding out if you can change it and if IRS would help with that . If I mistaken put 1 instead of claiming 0

Level 15
Mar 1, 2022 5:34:26 PM

@Leslyxxxlove7 You cannot change it after the fact.   The amount of tax you had withheld is what it is at this point, so you may get only a small refund or even owe since you did not have enough withheld from your pay.  All you can do is enter the W-2 exactly as it appears and see how your return comes out.  

 

Going forward, you can change the W-4 you give to your employer and have more tax withheld for 2022 now.

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/what-to-know-about-the-new-2020-irs-form-w-4-employee-s-withholding-certificate/00/1189006

 

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

 

 

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

Level 8
Mar 1, 2022 6:04:07 PM

Going forward, You do not want to continue fabricating the amount of dependents on your w-4 to get a more money during the year. If you earn enough money during the year, you will be hit with underpayment penalties. In addition to not getting the refund you desired, you would be penalized.  

New Member
Feb 6, 2023 8:31:13 AM

My w4 form was wrong for a year.I put 2 dependent instead 0

Intuit Alumni
Feb 6, 2023 9:33:53 AM

You must enter the information as it appears on your W4. If your W4 is wrong, you will need to contact your employer and update your information with them.

@Winton58 

Level 15
Feb 6, 2023 11:03:11 AM

@Winton58  If you filled out your W-4 for the employer incorrectly last year and did not have enough tax withheld , there is nothing to be done about that now.   You have to enter your W-2 just as it appears; if you did not have enough tax withheld your 2022 refund or tax due is now going to be affected by that.  Going forward, you can complete a new W-4 for your employer and have more withheld for tax year 2023.

 

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

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