part time job, w4

3 replies
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I am wanting to have a part time job ($50/mo) go entirely to taxes. How do I fill out the new w4 so that the entire amount will go to taxes? Can I put my net amount as the additional witholding?

Critter-3

Level 15

You can skip the 4 page worksheets and check SINGLE and put $50 on line 4(c) ...

SteamTrain

Level 15

Always.... possible complications

Well...one thing to be careful of, is that if it is a W-2 job, you can only have income taxes withheld that are only the specific amount you would normally get AFTER SS and Medicare taxes are first withheld. So is the $50, before, or after SS and Medicare withholding (and will it always be that $$ amount).

So you might need to select some lower even $$ amount...like maybe $30 or $40...and be resigned to collecting the difference between the $50 gross and the (SS +Medicare + income tax) withholding. The W-4 only can only specify the income tax withholding part.

....also you need to ask the employer if the state requires withholding too. Sometimes certain states will allow a W-2 provider to not withhold any state income taxes, other states may require a certain % no matter what the level of $$ being payed to a W-2. (though its true I don't know of specific states that require a % in all instances )

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*

dmertz

Level 15

Although I have not found it mentioned in IRS publications, if the result after the employer adds the extra withholding specified on line 4(c) on Form W-4 is greater the amount available for income tax withholding, I would expect the employer to withhold the entire available amount.

Note that the amount on line 4(c) is specified as an extra amount per pay period, not per month (unless the pay is paid monthly). To determine an equivalent of $50 per month you would need to divide $600 by the number of pay periods in the year. But to have it all withheld for taxes, it seems likely that you would just need to specify an amount of extra withholding that is greater than any amount that you would expect to earn in any pay period.