Updating my W-4...What's the most allowances I can claim without owing (or owing too much if I do)? I'm single, file HOH and have one dependent.Thanks!

[ramonasward]

I had a daughter in 2016. She passed away, so I didn't change my W-4. I had my second daughter in 2017, intended to change my W-4, and just didn't follow through. I am doing that now. When I completed the worksheet, I come up with 7 allowances. That seems like a lot. I would like to have more money in my paycheck during the year and am okay with having a smaller or no refund at tax time. I'd like to avoid owing, of course, if I can. And should I find myself having to pay, I'd like to not be overwhelmed. So I didn't add the "4" on the "Child Tax Credit line. I put one for myself, one for filing Head of Household, and One for being single, which puts me at three allowances. That makes more sense to me, but I want to be sure. 

Thanks so much!!! 🙂

[DDollar]

It's impossible to advise you accurately as to what you should claim on your W-4 so that you don't owe any tax when you file next year.  I recommend you use the IRS tax withholding calculator to accurately determine what to claim:

https://www.irs.gov/payments/tax-withholding