W-4 event - number of dependents

[Joe Joe 1]

Hello, I got hit with a very large (for me) tax payment this April. I have one dependent on my W-4. Am I able to claim 0 dependents, and even if I have more kids, still claim 0? That way the government can keep their money and I don’t have to come up with 8k in April that I don’t have. 
Will this mess with any child dependent credits? Will the IRS flag me or claim that I have none because of the 0 on my W-4? 
Thank you,

Joe 

[Bsch4477]

You are free to complete the W-4 any way you’d like. The IRS doesn’t see it. Your employer uses it to determine how much to withhold. 

[marctu]

Thank you for your question.  Well I am sorry to hear that this happened.   You do not have to have any entries in Step 3 of the W-4, and it will not raise any '"red flags" by doing so. 

I am concerned though that you owed approximately $8K though and only have one dependent.  I would suggest using these two Turbo Tax resources to check the numbers as well: 

TurboTax's W-4 Calculator 

TurboTax's Tax Caster tax calculator 

Hopefully the adjustments will result in a better result with your 2024 tax return.  Be well and safe @Joe Joe 1