How to fill out Form W-4 for 2026
What each step on the employee's withholding certificate asks for, which steps most people skip, and when to hand in a new one.
Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. Only Steps 1 and 5 are required. Steps 2 to 4 are for people with more than one job, a working spouse, dependents, or other income and deductions, and filling them in makes withholding closer to the tax you will actually owe.
Fields, in order.
- 01Step 1: Personal information
Name, address, Social Security number and filing status: single, married filing jointly, or head of household.
- 02Step 2: Multiple jobs or spouse works
Only if you hold more than one job at once or file jointly with a working spouse. Use the estimator at IRS.gov/W4App, the worksheet on page 3, or check the box.
- 03Step 3: Claim dependents
Only if your income is under the limit on the form. Multiply qualifying children and other dependents by the amounts shown.
- 04Step 4: Other adjustments
Optional. Other income not from jobs, deductions beyond the standard deduction, and any extra amount you want withheld per pay period.
- 05Step 5: Sign here
Sign and date. Without a signature the form is not valid and your employer withholds as if you were single with no adjustments.
Common mistakes.
If you check the box, check it on the W-4 for every job, including your spouse's. Checking it on one job leaves too little withheld.
Claim them on the W-4 for the highest-paying job only, or the credit is counted twice.
Marriage, a new baby, a second job or a big raise are all reasons to hand in a new W-4.
Terms you will see.
Ask the document what any of them means. The answer cites the page.
Fill it, check it, sign it.
Fill it by asking
Drop the PDF, paste the facts, and the agent fills every matching field. Unmatched fields are listed so nothing is skipped.
Check it before you send
Empty required fields, a missing signature, a date that disagrees with another page. The document check lists them with page numbers.
Sign it and send it
Draw your signature and place it, free. Or send it to someone else to sign on their phone, with an audit certificate. Free, 25 a month.
W-4,
answered.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Can I fill it on my phone?+
Yes. Open it in Fill & Sign, tap Fill step by step, sign with your finger, and send it back. Progress saves as you go.
Do I send it to the IRS?+
No. Give it to your employer. They keep it and use it to set your withholding.
Is this the current form?+
Yes, the 2026 Form W-4 straight from IRS.gov, unchanged.
Fill your W-4 in about ninety seconds.
Type into it, sign with your finger and send it back. No card needed.