What do my spouse and I claim on our W4?

Submitted by themamacurd619 t3_10p6i7h in personalfinance

We recently married. Last year was the first year we filed jointly. We ended up owing because of whatever he claimed on his W4. I can't find the answer to my question anywhere on Google.

We both work full time. He makes more money than me. We have two kids. Does he claim 3 and I claim 1? Should we both claim 2? I don't understand this....

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fawningandconning t1_j6ij488 wrote

There is no more claiming allowances, you and your husband are using an outdated W4.

Use the IRS calculator to figure out what extra withholding you may need to add.

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themamacurd619 OP t1_j6ijax2 wrote

What?! My husband works for a capital city. How can a city W4 from a city be outdated?!

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lane32x t1_j6il6zf wrote

Maybe the last time he filled it out was before they changed the way that you're supposed to fill it out?

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themamacurd619 OP t1_j6ilafz wrote

I'm looking at the calculator and my brain is ready for this right now.... Ugh.

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lane32x t1_j6iohmc wrote

Yeah I'm not a fan of it.

I filled it out perfectly a few years ago so that my wife and I got like $100 back or something like that (we wanted to have the least amount given as a refund) then the next year I was afraid it wouldn't take into account our bonuses and I redid it. Now we get a much larger refund than I want, but I really don't want to fill it out again.

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themamacurd619 OP t1_j6iqi9z wrote

Where do you fill it out? At your place of employment?

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lane32x t1_j6ir5cw wrote

Go through one of the W4 calculators first, which will tell you what to put on his form and what to put on your form. Then submit each updated form through each of your places of employment.

W-4 Calculator options:

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