Tax Withholding
Definition
The portion of your paycheck that your employer sends directly to the IRS as a prepayment of your income tax. The amount withheld is based on the information you provide on Form W-4, including filing status, dependents, and additional withholding requests. Proper withholding should closely match your actual tax liability to avoid a large balance due or an excessive refund. You can adjust your W-4 at any time during the year.
Example
Your employer withholds $500 per biweekly paycheck for federal taxes based on your W-4. Over 26 pay periods, that is $13,000 withheld. If your actual tax liability is $12,000, you receive a $1,000 refund.
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