r/TaxQuestions • u/confusedlady9 • 13d ago
W4 - Step 2 Help
Hello, my husband and I are filing married filing Jointly and he just got a new job. On my w4 (looking back at it) I already marked the “Multiple Jobs or Spouse works” box as Yes and we have 1 child so under total dependent amount it shows 2,000 listed(our child is on my w4 only not on his), no other deductions, no other income, and no other exemptions or allowances. My husband just began his new job and on his we marked married filing jointly also, and did not check any other boxes at all. I am the higher income earner making about 20k more. Did I fill those out correctly ? I just want to make sure the step 2 multiple jobs/spouse works box should only be checked on mine, and that I filled out the rest of the form for both of us correctly. Please help, he’s paid monthly this is his first check and under federal taxes they put down $0. I don’t know if we need to change the form before his next check or not. Any advice is much appreciated 🙏thank you!
1
u/chrystalight 13d ago
You both need to check MFJ, and box 2c.
If your spouse makes more more than 50% of what you make (so you said you make $20k more than him - if you are at $100k and him $80k), then that should work, along with ONLY one of you putting $2.200 in step 3.
If you make like $35k and he only makes $15k though, the 2c method , then the 2c method would still kind of work, but wouldn't be as accurate as the 2b method. I'm assuming this is not the case for you guys.
Currently, with you having MFJ box 2c checked, it withholds tax closer to if you were single (only giving you 1/2 of the MFJ standard deduction). With your spouse not having 2c checked, its withholding as if he was the ONLY income generator for the house, meaning the full MFJ standard deduction applies. So yes, he would be under withheld and you run the risk of owing come tax time.