Time to Check Your Tax Withholding

Check Your Tax Withholding

Now that we are in the last quarter of 2021, now is a good time to check tax withholding. Life brings constant changes to individual financial situations. Events like marriage, divorce, a new child, or home purchase can all be reasons to adjust withholding. The convenient Tax Withholding Estimator, also available in Spanish, will help you determine if you have too much withheld and how to make an adjustment to put more cash into your own pocket now. In other cases, it will help you see that you should withhold more or make an estimated tax payment to avoid a tax bill when you file your tax return next year.

Items that may affect 2021 taxes

Things to consider when adjusting withholding for 2021 are:

Pay as you go

Taxes are generally paid throughout the year whether from salary withholding, quarterly estimated tax payments or a combination of both. About 70% of taxpayers, however, over withhold their taxes every year, which typically results in a refund. The average refund in 2021 was more than $2,700.

Taxpayers can pay online, by phone, or from the IRS2Go app. They can schedule payments for future dates, which can be useful during filing season, for payment plan payments, or for estimated tax payments. Taxpayers can also log into their IRS.gov/account to view the amount they owe, their payment plan details and options, their payment history (up to 5 years), any scheduled or pending payments, and key tax return information from their most recent tax return.

Tax Withholding Estimator

The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator makes it easier for everyone to have the right amount of tax withheld. This is especially important for anyone who faced an unexpected tax bill or a penalty when they filed this year, or whose jobs or tax circumstances have changed during the year. The tool offers workers, as well as retirees, self-employed individuals, and other taxpayers, a user-friendly, step-by-step tool for effectively tailoring the amount of income tax they have withheld from wages and pension payments.

For more information about taxes, estimated taxes, and tax withholding, see Tax Withholding at IRS.gov.

Additional Tax Resources


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