Change W4 to single even though I am married

Hi guys,

I need assistance with my W4. My husband and I are married, filing jointly, and both of us have W2 income. It’s a straightforward situation; we’re listed as married and both earning income on our W4s. However, not enough federal tax was withheld from my husband’s paychecks, and now we’re facing a $9,000 tax bill. We’ve confirmed this amount with TurboTax, TaxAct, and a tax advisor at H&R Block.

While we’re capable of paying the tax bill, I’m concerned about ensuring that the correct amount is withheld in the future to avoid this issue again. The tax advisor suggested we both change our W4s to “single” so that more tax is withheld. I’m confused as to how we could fill out the forms correctly and still end up in this situation. Do you have any advice on how to adjust our W4s?

When my partner and I ran into a similar situation, we switched our W4s to “single” and it was a solid fix. This bumps up the withholding so you don’t get hit with a big bill later. Just make sure to adjust the “extra withholding” section if needed. We did this and it worked out great for us!

To avoid underpaying taxes, review your W-4 forms and consider increasing the number of allowances claimed. You can also use the IRS withholding calculator to determine the correct amount to withhold.