I got married back in 2013 but I never changed my Federal Tax Certificate (W-4) with my employer, it still says single at a higher rate. Is it necessary or of some personal benefit for me to change it to married?

[PatriciaV · Accepted solution]

The W-4 you file with your employer determines how much income tax is withheld from your wages. You may change this form at any time. If you don't owe a lot of tax with your return or aren't receiving a refund of more than $500, whatever you entered on your W-4 is correct.

Some taxpayers want to have a large refund, so they withhold more each pay period. This is the same as giving the government a free loan. You may find that having more money each month is better than receiving a lump sum once a year.

Note: You can claim any filing status and any number of dependents on your W-4. This info is not reported to the IRS and has no effect on how you file your tax return.