Can my employer in Colorado who paid me 3 checks in December 2018 and took nothing out in taxes, now tax my January 2019 weekly paycheck for all the taxes?

[kdarlene71]

No.. They can only tax you for the new year

[SteamTrain]

The tax withholding a company does is sometimes done based on the income you are expected to get from that employer, for that tax year.  With only 3 paychecks in 2018 (from that employer), their payroll system may have determined that no withholding was required for you...based on whatever W-4 allowances you entered.

1) Of course, this may have been done without consideration of any other job you may have held prior to that Dec employer, and you could owe some more taxes for hat income when you file.

 2) or maybe they paid you as a 1099-MISC contractor for 2018........(If SS and Medicare taxes were withheld from those paychecks, then you don't have to worry about that possible complication)