topic Amount to withhold in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Amount to withhold

jrsoutha — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:32:04 GMT

I claim 1 plus my daughter and my husband claims zero. We always seem to pay taxes at the end of the year. How can I determine what I should claim to get me closer to break even? Or what suggestions do you have that would lower my income to avoid paying taxes each year?

Re: Amount to withhold

evelynm — Wed, 29 May 2024 20:47:54 GMT

Turbo Tax has a great tax caster tool to estimate your taxes. It will also allow you to adjust your withholdings with an updated W-4 to provide to your employer.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/w4/

Using the tax caster allows you to do "what if" scenarios like increasing your charitable contributions and retirement plan contributions if applicable.

Tax savings tips: https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-deductions-and-credits/7-best-tips-to-lower-your-tax-bill-from-turbotax-tax-experts/L0frRUUVL

Re: Amount to withhold

SusanR2 — Wed, 29 May 2024 21:45:01 GMT

Hello! If I understand you correctly, you are claiming 1 plus your daughter for a total of 2 dependents. If that is correct, you probably should update your W-4 form. In step 1 of the form you indicate your filing status (ie Married Filing Joint or Married Filing Separate). Assuming you file Married Filing Joint, you'd then complete Step 2 since you both work. In Step 3, one of you will claim your daughter, only. (So it will be 1 dependent, not 2 as you describe). If you get your paycheck and the difference after updating your W-4 still does not seem to be enough based on what you owed last year, update the form again and add an additional amount to be withheld in Step 4 line (c) to cover it and/or give you a cushion. To determine the additional amount, take the amount of tax you owed last year and divide it by the number of paychecks you receive. That's the amount extra to be withheld per paycheck. Remember, for this year, we are already 5 months in so you should divide by the number of paychecks left so you cover this year. Then update your form again for 2025. Hope this helps!