Single, Married, Other…I’m So Confused

Q. What does the box mean on the W-4 Form that says “Married but withhold at higher single rate?”

A. This is one of the most frequent questions I get. The answer lies in an understanding of federal withholding. There are two withholding tables used by employers to withholding federal tax. One is for those who check the box “Single” in the W-4. The second table is related to those who check the box for “Married” on the W-4. There are also two income tax tables: Married and Single. The selection you make on the Form W-4 tells Read more »