As millions of taxpayers rush to the post office tonight to get their tax forms in the mail, I want to stress again the importance of filling out one more form. No, not an extra 1040 or Schedule D or Schedule SE or even an amended 1040X.
Millions upon millions of taxpayers can put more money in their pockets starting next payday by filing a new W-4 form with their employers. The W-4 is the form that controls how much federal income tax your boss takes out of your checks each payday for the IRS. The higher than ever number of record-sized refunds issued by the IRS this spring is proof positive that millions of us let the government dip too deep into our paychecks each week.
Filing a new W-4 is an powerful weapon to bring that to an end.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
We've created a special calculator to give you a solid idea of the instant gratification you can enjoy by filing a new W-4. Check out our easy withholding calculator, and take a few minutes to give yourself a raise.
-
New Tax Rules: Income the IRS Won’t Touch in 2025Income Taxes From financial gifts to Roth withdrawal rules, here’s what income stays tax-free under the new Trump 2025 tax bill, and some information on what’s changed.
-
Three Popular Tax Breaks Are Gone for Good in 2026Tax Breaks Here's a list of federal tax deductions and credits that you can't claim in the 2026 tax year. Plus, high-income earners could get hit by a 'surprise' tax bill.
-
Tax Brackets 2025 Quiz: How Much Do You Know?Quiz Test your knowledge of IRS rules that impact how much money you keep in your wallet.
-
Retirees Face a Growing Capital Gains Tax Trap: What's Next?Home Sales A changing housing market and unchanged IRS exclusion amounts can add up to a headache for many homeowners. Will Congress offer a fix?
-
New York Inflation Refund Checks Are Coming Soon: What to Know NowTax Relief Inflation relief checks are on the way for over 8 million New York taxpayers. Here's a full breakdown of who gets a payment and when you may expect yours.
-
IRS Phasing Out Paper Checks: What Happens After September 30?Tax Changes Avoid delays when IRS tax refunds and Social Security paper checks are cut off. Here’s what to know.
-
The Most Tax-Friendly States for Investing in 2025 (Hint: There Are Two)State Taxes Living in one of these places could lower your 2025 investment taxes — especially if you invest in real estate.
-
The Final Countdown for Retirees with Investment IncomeRetirement Tax Don’t assume Social Security withholding is enough. Some retirement income may require a quarterly estimated tax payment by the September 15 deadline.
