Posted: July 24, 2015 | Source: AICPA, The CPA Client Tax Newsletter
Few people pay exactly the correct amount of income tax during the year. When you filed your return for 2014, you probably discovered that you paid too little (and owed more tax) or paid too much (and could request a refund). Typic:ally, refunds are due to employees who have too much tax withheld from their paychecks.
Example 1: Arlene King is paid twice a month. From each paycheck, her employer withholds $1,000 for federal income tax, so Arlene’s tax payments for 2014 were $24,000. When Arlene filed her 2014 tax return, she learned that her tax obligation for last year was $21,000. Thus, Arlene could request a $3,000 tax refund.
Does over-withholding and getting a refund in this manner make sense financially? That depends on a taxpayer’s situation.
Positive features
The advantage of getting a tax refund is, well, who wouldn’t want to receive a large check from the federal government? Moreover, federal income tax refunds aren’t taxable. (A state or local tax refund may increase the tax you’ll owe.)
Thus, Arlene could decide to use her $3,000 refund check to invest or to pay down debt or to make a special purchase. In effect, her $3,000 of excess tax withholding becomes a form of forced saving, which she can utilize every year when the check comes in.
Now for the negatives
On the other hand, having too much money withheld for income tax has been likened to making an interest-free loan to the IRS. It’s your money-you earned it-so why wait for months to get your hands on it? This strategy can be especially unappealing if your overwithholding results from a major change in your life.
Example 2: In early 2014, Bianca and Craig Carter bought a house, using a large mortgage for the purchase. Bianca left her job to stay home with their young child. Thus, the Carters had lower income and higher deductions than in 2013, resulting in a smaller tax bill.
However, Craig did not adjust his tax withholding at work. Thus, he paid more tax than necessary throughout the year. It’s true that the Carters got back the overpayment with a 2015 tax refund, but they went through 2014 with less cash flow than required, forcing them to struggle to cover the costs of a new home and a growing family.
Winning the numbers game
If you feel that you need the disciplined forced savings of overwithholding, then relying on an annual tax refund may make sense. Conversely, if you prefer to get your money as you earn it, you can reduce the amount withheld by filling out IRS Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, and submitting it to your employer. Our office can help you fill out Form W-4 so you get the right amount withheld, avoiding either a large refund or a large tax obligation with next year’s tax return.
Trusted Advice – Adapting allowances
- On IRS Form W-4, employees can claim a number of personal allowances.
- The more allowances you claim, the lower your withholding and the more income you’ll receive with each paycheck.
- Two income couples can calculate the total number of allowances to which they’re entitled.
- For such couples, withholding usually will be most accurate when all allowances are claimed on the Form W-4 for the higher earning spouse.
- The lower earning spouse then can claim zero allowances on his or her Form W-4.
