PT job & federal income taxes withheld

[buchanl]

I started a PT retail job in Oct. W-2 has wages less than $1,000 but there is no federal income tax withheld. My pay stub says 1 exemption, but nothing is being taken out - any ideas why? I'm not exempt.

[MichaelMc · Accepted solution]

This can be a probllem many times for taxpayers who hold part-time jobs. It sounds like you properly filled out your W-4 and claimed 1 exemption. But, the tax tables that employers and payroll services use only look at the amount being earned in each pay period, and part-time wages are often so low that no tax needs to be taken out.

Unfortunately, when you get to year end, and your part-time income gets added to income from another job, you find yourself owing taxes.

The only remedy is to go to your employer at the part-time job, ask to fill out a new W-4, and indicate that you want an extra amount withheld for federal taxes each pay period.