W4

[NDMLM]

I am trying to have my employer take out more takes, as they don’t, can I claim 0 and single if I’m married and will be filing jointly? Also, if I claim 0 and single, should I be skipping step 2 on my W4? Or should I indicate spouse is working by selecting a box on step 2? 

[MindyB]

Yes, you can opt to have withholding computed at the higher single rate even if you are married. You shouldn't necessarily skip step 2, it depends on your circumstances.

Refer to the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to estimate the federal income tax you would like your employer to withhold from your check. 

[NDMLM]

My husband and I each have 1 job so we will each have our own W2. I am worried that if I select single, but then select an option in Step 2 on the W4 it will lead to less taxes withheld. 

[KrisD15]

Step 2 is beneficial if one of you earns twice as much as the other. 

If that is the case, the spouse with the higher income fills out W-4 using Step 2 and gives it to their employer.

You are correct that Step 2 (since it is trying to be most accurate) also takes deductions and credits into account (in Step 3 and 4), which could indicate a LOWER withholding. 

Claiming 0 and Single for the higher paid spouse would result in more tax withheld if they claimed Married Filing Jointly for 2024.  

You can also adjust by entering "Extra withholding" in Step 4 line 4c if circumstance's will be the same for 2025 and you know how much more you need to what to withhold. Remember that it would be an amount per pay period.