turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

My federal tax due is $406 but I filed 0 exemptions all 2021. why do I owe money at all?

I'm looking at my "FITWH" and the filing status just says "S" and below it I see my state filing status that says "S" Exemptions "0" my federal taxes withheld just has an S next to filing status. there is no zero. 

 

( I ONLY HAD ONE JOB LAST YEAR ) 

x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

5 Replies

My federal tax due is $406 but I filed 0 exemptions all 2021. why do I owe money at all?

This can happen if you have more than one job during the year.  Each job is withholding like it is the only job you have all year.  To correct this fill in a new  W-4  to either reflect the other income or have an extra amount withheld on line 4c.

 

Of course review the entire return for errors before you file. 

My federal tax due is $406 but I filed 0 exemptions all 2021. why do I owe money at all?

It can also happen if you don’t have enough tax taken from paycheck. Go to your HR department and fill out a new W4 to increase withholding from paycheck to prevent a balance due in the future.

My federal tax due is $406 but I filed 0 exemptions all 2021. why do I owe money at all?

"Exempt" means you chose not to have any taxes withheld. It does not mean that you are exempt from paying taxes at all.

My federal tax due is $406 but I filed 0 exemptions all 2021. why do I owe money at all?

Even if you had only one job last year, income from other sources (interest, dividends, investments/distributions) can increase your income and cause a tax due.

@johncp1989 

 

The "S" you see in for the  Federal taxes withheld, without a "1" or a "0" the  is probably correct. There would/should be no "0" on it anymore since the IRS changed their W-4 procedures to not have any numbered "allowances" anymore.   

 

State withholding forms (equivalent to the old W-4), may still have numbered exemptions/allowances (however they decide to label them), since they can choose on their own how the want to create/prepare/calculate using those state-specific forms.

______________________

Your statement about supposedly having no ("0") Federal allowances might have been the case if you are referring to an older W-4 form, but the employer was likely required to convert it to the new W-4 withholding format and tables that the IRS now uses for 2021.  As @Critter-3  suggested, you should try submitting a fresh copy of the newly-formatted W-4 to your employer, and perhaps have an additional amount subtracted from each pay to approx match the $400 you were short, by the end of next year.

___________________________________

Here's a copy of the new W-4 form 

(line 4c would be where you would indicate an added amount you want withheld for each paycheck period, not for the entire year.  You have to make that calc yourself  based on how often you get paid)

 

About Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

 

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

My federal tax due is $406 but I filed 0 exemptions all 2021. why do I owe money at all?

You can also use our W-4 Calculator 2022 to calculate the right amount of withholding for future tax years. 

 

@johncp1989

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question
Manage cookies