One of my employers did not withhold my federal taxes. Is that something I can challenge to keep from paying them myself?

[mburns75]

I was employed with a school district for one month. They made me repay their part of my benefits and now I have the W2 showing no federal taxes were withheld.

[MaryK4]

Because you were not employed with them very long, there is limited recourse.  Do you remember if you completed a W-4 before starting?  Because the withholding is just prepayment for taxes you would have had to pay anyway, it is difficult to show any damages.  

[mburns75]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I completed a W4 and the entire onboarding process of paperwork. They did pay the SS and Medicare taxes, just not the federal income tax. 

[PattiF]

As MaryK1101 mentioned, you will have to pay the federal withholding whether they withheld it from your wages or you pay it now. Federal withholding reduces your take home pay. The amount that should have been deducted for a month's employment should not be too great of an amount. It is surprising that the school district did not withhold the tax but it will be difficult to challenge this.

@mburns75 

[mburns75]

Thank you for this information. It ended up being over $1000, but I appreciate the advice from you both. I'll just pay it. @MaryK4 @PattiF