0 Exemptions withholding - why is my entire paycheck gone?

This definitely doesn't sound right. Even with 0 exemptions/allowances (which is now called 0 withholding allowances on the updated W-4 forms), you shouldn't lose your entire paycheck to withholdings. The withholding system is designed to approximate your actual tax liability, not take everything. A few things to check: First, make sure there wasn't a system error where multiple pay periods of taxes were withheld from one check. Second, check if there was any back tax withholding or garnishment being applied. Third, verify that your W-4 was processed correctly by your employer - sometimes new hires' paperwork gets processed with errors. I'd recommend contacting your company's payroll department directly. They should be able to provide a detailed breakdown of exactly what was withheld and why. Most payroll systems have specific codes for different types of withholdings, and they should be able to explain each one.

After struggling with similar withholding issues at my new job, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) super helpful for figuring out what was going on. I uploaded a picture of my pay stub and their system analyzed exactly why my withholding was so high. Turns out I had accidentally selected an option on my W-4 that massively increased my withholding rate. Their system explained exactly what boxes on my W-4 were causing the problem and showed me how to fix it with my employer. They can also help you figure out the right withholding for your specific situation so you don't end up with too much or too little taken out. Really simplified the whole process for me!

Just wanted to update everyone! I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and WOW it was eye-opening. I uploaded my paystub screenshot and it immediately identified that my employer had somehow coded me as "married filing separately" with "multiple jobs" despite me selecting single with one job on my W-4! The system showed me exactly what my withholding should be based on my actual situation and generated a new W-4 form that I could give to HR. I printed it out, brought it in yesterday, and they fixed everything in their system. They even said they'd adjust my next paycheck to refund some of the over-withholding from before. Definitely worth checking out if you're having weird withholding issues like this!

Had a similar issue last year and spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS for clarification. After waiting on hold for hours multiple times, I finally tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and was honestly shocked at how well it worked. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes who explained exactly what was happening with my withholding. You can see how the process works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c but essentially they navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when they've reached an agent. The IRS person I spoke with was actually super helpful and explained that a particular code on my W-4 was triggering excessive withholding, and told me exactly how to fix it with my employer.

I have to publicly eat my words. After calling BS on Claimyr in my previous comment, I decided to try it this morning because I was so fed up with my similar withholding issue. I've been trying to reach the IRS for THREE WEEKS with no luck. I signed up, and not even joking, 22 minutes later I got a call connecting me to an actual IRS agent. The agent explained that there's a specific code that some payroll systems use incorrectly for new employees that can cause 100% withholding on the first check as a "default" until the W-4 is fully processed. She walked me through exactly what to tell my employer to fix it, and even gave me the specific IRS publication number to reference. Problem solved in a 10-minute call after weeks of frustration. I'm still shocked this actually worked.

This might sound dumb, but are you sure this wasn't just an advance on your pay? Some companies will give you a small advance and then take it all back on your first actual paycheck. My company does this for new hires who need money before the regular pay cycle.

Check if your employer accidentally put your pay rate as much higher than it actually is in the system. I've seen this happen where someone was supposed to make $15/hr but the system had them at $150/hr, so the withholding calculation went crazy. The system thought they made WAY more money than they actually did, so it withheld everything.

This is definitely not normal! A few things to check immediately: First, look at your actual W-4 form that you submitted - sometimes the online systems can have confusing layouts that make it easy to accidentally select the wrong options. Second, verify with payroll that your hourly rate was entered correctly in their system (as others mentioned, data entry errors can cause massive withholding miscalculations). Also, some payroll systems have a "backup withholding" feature that kicks in if they think your W-4 is invalid or incomplete - this can result in them withholding at the highest possible rate (which could be close to 100% for smaller paychecks). Ask your payroll department specifically if backup withholding was applied to your check. The good news is that any over-withholding will come back to you as a refund when you file your taxes, but obviously you need your actual paycheck now! Don't let them brush this off - demand a detailed explanation of exactly what withholding codes were applied and why.

This sounds incredibly frustrating! Having your entire paycheck withheld is definitely not normal, even with 0 exemptions. I've seen a few cases like this, and it's usually one of several issues: 1. **Data entry error**: Your hourly rate might be entered incorrectly in the system (like $267 instead of $26.70 per hour), making the system think you're in a much higher tax bracket. 2. **W-4 processing error**: Sometimes the online forms glitch or get misinterpreted by payroll software. Even a small mistake like checking "married filing separately" instead of "single" can dramatically increase withholding. 3. **Backup withholding**: If the system flagged your W-4 as incomplete or invalid for any reason, it might default to maximum withholding rates. I'd definitely call payroll ASAP and ask for a detailed breakdown of your withholding. Specifically ask: what tax filing status they have on file, what your hourly rate shows in their system, and whether any backup withholding was applied. Don't let them give you vague answers - you deserve to know exactly where every dollar went. The silver lining is that any over-withholding will come back to you as a tax refund, but obviously you need your actual paycheck now! Keep us posted on what you find out.