Employers can send this page to new employees so they can prepare their federal W-4 and CT-W4, download the PDFs, sign, and return the forms directly.
Would you like to fill out and download your W-4?
Complete the information below and download your pre-filled W-4. You’ll still need to add your SSN, sign, and date before giving it to your employer.
Disclaimer: These pre-filled PDFs are for your reference only. This tool is provided for informational purposes, not tax advice. You are solely responsible for reviewing your withholding elections before submitting to your employer.
Best viewed in Chrome or Edge · Sign, add your SSN, and date before giving to your employer
Optional: estimate how these withholding choices may affect take-home pay.
Open the Paycheck Calculator →The IRS redesigned Form W-4 in 2020, eliminating withholding allowances and replacing them with a simpler, more accurate system. If you haven't filled out a new W-4 since 2019, your employer is still using your old form, but you can update it anytime.
If you don't give your employer a W-4, they're required to withhold at the Single rate with no adjustments, which usually means more tax is withheld than necessary. You'll get the excess back as a refund, but that's your money sitting with the IRS interest-free all year.
The old W-4 used withholding allowances in the payroll calculation. The redesigned form uses dollar amounts for dependent and other credits, other income, deductions, and extra withholding. A valid pre-2020 W-4 can remain on file, but any new election must use the current form.
If you're still on an old W-4 and your situation hasn't changed, there's no requirement to update. But if you want more accurate withholding, the new form is better because it accounts for your complete financial picture.
This is where most people get underwithholding wrong. If you and your spouse both work, each employer withholds as if that job is your only income. That means each job might withhold at the 10% or 12% bracket, but your combined income might actually push you into the 22% or 24% bracket. Checking the Step 2(c) box tells your employer to use a narrower bracket table that accounts for this.
Step 4(c) lets you request an extra dollar amount withheld each pay period. It can help cover tax on income that is not otherwise subject to withholding, but it does not guarantee a particular refund or balance due.
Yes. Share this page with the employee. The employee can prepare and download the forms, add the required Social Security number, signature, and date, then return them directly using the employer's approved method. The employer should not choose the employee's withholding elections.
No. This helper does not submit, email, or store completed forms. The employee downloads the forms and returns them using the employer's approved method.
No. Your W-4 stays in effect until you submit a new one. However, you should update it whenever your tax situation changes: new job, marriage, baby, second job, or if you had a big refund or owed a lot last year.
For three jobs, do not use the Step 2(c) two-jobs checkbox. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator or complete the Multiple Jobs Worksheet in Form W-4, then follow its instructions for each job.
For 2026, only if you had no federal income tax liability in 2025 and expect none in 2026. On the official form, check the box in the Exempt from withholding section, complete Steps 1(a), 1(b), and 5, and do not complete the other steps. This helper does not determine eligibility or select that box. Submit a new Form W-4 by February 16, 2027, to continue an exemption.
The old W-4 (2019 and earlier) used withholding allowances in the payroll calculation. The redesigned W-4 (2020 and later) uses dollar amounts for dependent and other credits, other income, deductions, and extra per-paycheck withholding instead.
If you haven't submitted a new W-4 since 2019, your employer legally continues using your old one. It's still valid. But if you want to change anything, you must use the current (2020+) form. The IRS no longer prints the old version.