My w-4 i opted single 1/0.I want the most federal taxes taken out. I get paid weekly. I've noticed fed taxs are not being taken out if I make less than 250 . Why though?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 20, 2025
1 reply
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I'm curious why my federal taxes are not being withheld if I make under $250.00 a week. What do I need to do to rectify this and have federal taxes withheld at a straight rate like they usually are . This is my 1st time getting paid weekly so I'm assuming this might affect it I'm not sure I don't want to choose to withhold extra federal taxes off my weekly check I just want my checkto be taxed the way it's supposed to be for each dollar made. My state / social security/ and Medicare taxs are way above my federal taxes and im reluctant to say I just never noticed before

Vanessa A

Level 15

Taxes by your employer are withheld based on The IRS Tax Table which uses your taxable income to determine how much to withhold. Your taxable income for purposes of the employer withholding taxes is your gross income minus your standard deduction. The intent is to have the exact right amount withheld, based on your filing status without consideration of credits or other deductions.

If you are paid weekly, your employer will withhold taxes based on that table for the week. If you make $250 per week every week for the entire year, then your total income for the year would be $13,000 ($250x52). If your total income for the year is $13,000, then you have no tax liability for the year because you have earned less than the standard deduction, which for 2025 as a single person is $15,000. So you would not have anything withheld.

On the weeks you earn say $500, then your taxes withheld would be based on a gross income of $26,000 and taxable income of $11,000 ($26,000-$15,000).

If you want taxes withheld more consistently, on your W-4, you can have additional withholdings of any amount you choose. You would enter this amount in Step 4 box c. Be aware, if you choose an extra amount, that amount will be withheld on top of whatever you should have withheld for the week. So if you choose $25 and you make $250 for the week, you would have $25 withheld that week. If you make $500 for the week you would have $46 withheld (the $21 from the tax table and the extra $25 that you requested additional)

The reason your state, social security and Medicare are always well above your federal is because Social Security and Medicare withhold from the first dollar you make. There is not a standard deduction from your income to calculate. So no matter how little you earn, you will be taxed 6.2% for social security and 1.45% for Medicare. State rules vary, but if your state is consistent as well, then you likely live in a flat rate state like PA which taxes all of your income at 3.07% and does not give a standard deduction when calculating your taxes you should have withheld.

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814adidasskaterAuthor

Level 2

You did explain it all very well. Thank you very much

However, I suppose I should of added a few more details. To Further elaborate on my confusion

I am indeed in PA., Coincidentally it's the state you chose to use for your example you provided . Stating P.A taxes all the income at a flat rate of

%3.07. This was perfect for specifically what I'm confused about.

Which is As follows

I'm used to the flat rate %3.07 taxes being deducted from my income . It's how it's always been. Even the years I I did not make enough and was not subject to tax liability. Howeverr there was always federal taxes taken out of my checks and I would receive a 400-900 federal tax return as that would be what I had been taxed through the year but was not required pay due to not reaching the

15,000 tax backrest . Even though I wasn't making enough in a year P.A would still at a flat rate withhold federal taxes but give them back at the end of the year via tax return. .

As of currently where I'm working at now. They aren't taxing my pay at a flat rate like I'm used to. I'm confused as to why it's changed and. How I'm supposed to to change it so that every dollar is taxed at a flat rate percent that it's supposed to be. I don't want to withhold a specific number like Hold $5 extra from every check or hold $10 from every check .

I'd like the flat rate.

So would you suggest. That i file a new w-4 and under weekly withholdings. I should apply. %3.07 would that be the correct. Percent or is the %3.07. Medicare SSI and fed taxes all combined as one .

DianeW777

Level 15

If I understand your question(s), and assuming you do agree with and understand the state tax withholding, continue to see the federal withholding and the information for completing your W-4.

For the federal withholding there is a chart the employer must use to determine the amount to withhold each pay period and it is also based on your gross pay and the information on your W-4.

Dependents: if you have dependents you can choose to list them or simply put zero if you want something withheld.
Other income should be zero unless you know there will be income that is not subject to withholding as noted on the W-4.
Deductions should be zero if you normally use the standard deduction.
Extra withholding should be used if your income falls into a zero withholding amount. It's a simple process such as in your example of your regularly expected refund on your federal return of $400-$900.
1. Example: Divide $500 by the number of your pay periods remaining in the year. $500/48 weeks = $10 each week is necessary to arrive at an approximate refund of $500.
2. Enter $10 on line 4(c) on a new W-4. You can change this as many times as you want during the tax year and your employer must adjust your withholding accordingly.

Social security of 7.65% and medicare tax of 1.45% will always be withheld from your gross pay each pay period as indicated by @Vanessa A.

Pennsylvania (PA) rate will not change unless they should change their tax rate. Your employer would consistently take 3.07% for your state withholding from each pay check as you understand.

@814adidasskater

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