JUNE 12TH, 2008
By CPA SAM
Q. I’m using PaycheckCity.com to estimate my paycheck after moving to Arizona. What’s up with the percentage stuff? Why is there no filing status and allowance values like everyone else?
A. I wish I could tell you why Arizona withholds like it does. Employers in Arizona calculate withholding as a percentage of federal withholding. This is the last state that bases it’s withholding on the federal calculation. In past years as federal withholding as decreased for many people. As federal withholding declines so does state withholding if Read more »
APRIL 30TH, 2008
By CPA SAM
Q. I need a Pennsylvania version of the W-4. Where are they?
A. Pennsylvania has no equivalent of the Form W-4. This creates huge problems with regards to the employee reporting to the employer what municipality they reside in. Often the town of reference in the address is not the same as the municipality for withholding purposes.
That is beside the point however. W-4 forms are used by payroll departments for setting the marital status and number of allowances for an employee. Because these items don’t exist in Pennsylvania withholding there is no need for the form. PA is currently calculated as 3.07% of gross wages. You can’t claim extra allowances to reduce withholding, you are just stuck at that percentage.
Therefore, when you provide new hire forms to your employer, all you need to provide is the federal W-4 and the I-9 plus any company specific documents requested. Now, if we could just figure out a way to get the state to simplify the number of local taxing jurisdictions, payroll in PA would not be so difficult.
