How The W-4 Withholding (IRS Withholding) Could Affect Finances In The Coming Year

With 2020 in view, a new set of rules and regulations have been put in place; some of which could affect our finances in the coming by either building them up or slowing them down. We have the adjusted IRS withholding tables that may influence take-home pay and help taxpayers avoid costly penalties, the minimum wage increases in 25 states and the amended overtime pay requirements.

Investing Port has researched to see how each of these new rules could affect our finances and would be focusing on the W-4 Withholding in this article.

W-4 Withholding

Recently, the federal government issued a new, more detailed, version of Form W-4, also known as the Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. The changes range from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA), which altered federal income tax rates and brackets starting in 2018, and in turn, shifted IRS withholding tables. 

Pete Isberg, vice president of government relations for ADP, spoke to Yahoo Finance saying, “This is essentially a delayed reaction to the TCJA that took effect in 2018. Income tax withholding essentially has undergone a very major overhaul for 2020 that could be a source of confusion.”

Changes made to the current W-4 Withholding form

·      The most important change to the W-4 Withholding is that the IRS has done away with the “allowances” method to estimate withholding.

Isberg further said, “Withholding allowances have been the basis for payroll withholding forever. So that's going to cause a little confusion.”

·      Another change is that which will impact taxpayers with multiple jobs and married filers filing jointly. 

Isberg commented saying, “The tax tables just assume that spouses earn about the same amount, and it divides the standard deduction and the tax brackets kind of equally between two jobs." The new section replaces a 9-step process that was previously used to estimate withholding for multiple income households.

·      An elective section allowing taxpayers to withhold for separate sources of income, such as interest, dividends, and retirement income was also changed.

Taxpayers who have previously submitted a Form W-4 and have not sent in the new version are not required to update or replace their submission. However, penalties for underpayments resulting from outdated form calculations will be assessed for the first time beginning with filings for the 2019 tax year. Those who begin new employment after 2019, or wish to adjust their withholding, must complete the new form.

The IRS reminds taxpayers to recheck withholding again at the start of 2020 on its website. The agency says a reassessment is  important, for those taxpayers who reduced withholding in 2019, or did not file a new Form W-4 for 2020. The agency provided a calculator to estimate withholding is also provided on its website.

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Yahoo Finance