Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Completing the Personal Allowance Worksheet
• Method 2 of 2: Completing the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
• Tips

If you are going to work in the United States, your employer will ask you to complete a special W-4 form. It calculates how much taxes will be deducted from your salary. By completing W-4, you can also determine what income tax credit you may be entitled to.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Completing the Personal Allowance Worksheet

1. 1 Be sure to read the instructions for completing the form provided at the top of the form. Keep in mind that the more discounts you demand, the less money will be withheld from your salary in taxes.
2. 2 Determine if you are a dependent. If you are not a dependent, then put the number "1" in the box opposite the letter A.
3. 3 Please fill in the boxes with additional information regarding discounts, if applicable.
   • Include discounts for your spouse, children, and other dependents you support.
   • Determine if you can be considered the Head of the Household. This information should be provided to people who are not married and who spend at least half of their income on dependents.
   • Add a discount if you are having a child, there are additional costs associated with a dependent, or if you are considering taking out a tax credit.
4. 4 Determine how many discounts you are entitled to, depending on the amount that the tax office will return to you (the so-called tax refund), and also if you owe tax for the previous year.
   • Add discounts if you received a large tax refund and would like less money to be withheld from your paycheck. The more discounts you have, the less taxes you will be charged.
   • Reduce the number of rebates if you had to pay taxes in the previous year. The more money is withheld from your paycheck, the less you owe to the tax office at the end of the year.
5. 5 Count the number of discounts you have claimed and enter this number in front of the letter H. You must also put this number in front of the 5 in your W-4 form.

Method 2 of 2: Completing the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate

1. 1 Fill in your personal information. You will need to include your name, address, and social security number.
2. 2 Indicate if you are married or not. If you are married, you will be able to pay less taxes.
   • Check the box that you are not married (single) if you are married but legally separate, or if you are married but your spouse is not a resident of the United States.
3. 3 Write down the total number of discounts you have identified by filling out the form.
4. 4 Determine if you want to be deducted from your paycheck any additional amounts, for example, if you owe the tax office, or if you want a larger tax refund. Enter this amount in dollars.
5. 5 Read the Exemption Claim. In order not to deduct extra money from your salary, you should not have any debts to the tax office.
6. 6 Sign the form and fill in the number. Give the form to the employer. This form is usually required in the HR department or in the accounting department.

Tips

• Form W-4 can be updated annually. You can make changes to it, for example, if you get married or divorced, have a baby, or have other changes that might affect your taxes.