Avoid Tax Season Surprises: Why You Should Check Your Withholding Now

By Sylvia Cuthbert

It happens like clockwork—every year, after filing their taxes, employees come back confused and frustrated.

“Why do I owe so much?” “I thought enough taxes were taken out of my paycheck!”

Sound familiar? You're not alone. Many people assume their employer is withholding the right amount of tax from each paycheck—but that’s not always the case. And by the time tax season rolls around, it can be too late to fix.

The good news? You can take control now—and avoid that unpleasant surprise next year.

The IRS Wants You to Check Your Withholding

The IRS recommends that all taxpayers check their withholding at least once a year. And there’s no better time to do it than right now—fresh off tax season while everything is still top of mind.

To help make it easy, the IRS created the Tax Withholding Estimator—a user-friendly, step-by-step tool that shows how much you should be withholding based on your income, credits, deductions, and more. It can even help you fill out a new W-4 form if adjustments are needed.

Think of it as a financial tune-up that only takes a few minutes but could save you big time down the road.

Who Should Definitely Check?

Everyone can benefit from reviewing their withholding—but it’s especially important if you fall into one of these categories:

• You and your spouse both work

• You have seasonal or part-time work

• You claim tax credits like the Child Tax Credit

• You have dependents age 17 or older

• You used to itemize but now take the standard deduction

• You have income from sources other than wages (like freelance work or investments)

• You’ve had a large tax bill—or a large refund—in previous years

• 
  

Big Life Changes = Big Withholding Changes

Life doesn’t stand still—and your tax situation shouldn’t either. If any of the following apply, it’s definitely time to recheck your withholding:

• You got married or divorced

• You had a child or adopted one

• You bought a home

• You started a second job or side hustle

In complex situations, the IRS suggests looking at Publication 505 or consulting with a tax pro for personalized advice.

After You Update Your W-4…

Make sure the changes were actually applied. Take a moment to check your next few pay stubs to ensure the correct amount of federal and state taxes is being withheld.

The Bottom Line

Tax season surprises aren’t fun—but they are avoidable. Checking your withholding now helps ensure you're not overpaying or underpaying during the year.

Take a few minutes, use the IRS estimator, and set yourself up for a smoother tax season next year.

🧾 Processing Payroll Yourself and Not Sure if You’re Calculating Employees Withholding Correctly?

King and McCleary Payroll uses industry leading payroll software to ensure that your employees’ pay checks will be calculated correctly and with the correct tax withholding.   

Your employees count on you – we can help you get it right.  

Schedule a free discovery call to see if King and McCleary Payroll is the right fit for your business.

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