Do I need to update my W4 if I originally selected having 2 jobs but now only have 1 job?

This is a really good question! Yes, when your employment situation changes significantly like going from two jobs to one, you should submit a new W4. The W4 is basically your instructions to your employer about how much tax to withhold. When you check the box for "multiple jobs," the IRS withholding tables apply a different calculation that assumes you have additional income from another source. This typically results in higher withholding from each paycheck to cover the combined tax liability from both income sources. Now that you only have one job, you're likely having too much withheld if you leave that box checked. The fact that you're seeing less federal tax taken out now compared to your previous single-job situation is odd though. It could be due to different pay periods, different benefit deductions, or that your new W4 hasn't been processed yet. I'd recommend following up with HR again, maybe ask them directly if your new W4 has been processed and when you can expect to see it reflected in your paychecks. You can also use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator online to help figure out the right withholding for your situation.

I went through something similar and found this amazing tool at https://taxr.ai that helped me figure out exactly what to do with my W4 situation. It analyzed my specific situation with changing jobs and explained exactly what boxes to check. I was in a similar spot where I had indicated having two jobs on my W4, then went down to one job but wasn't sure if I needed to update anything. The tool looked at my specific situation and confirmed I needed to submit a new W4 since the withholding calculations are totally different for single vs. multiple jobs. What was really helpful is that it showed me what my estimated withholding would be with both the old and new W4 settings, so I could see how much money I was potentially leaving on the table by not updating my form. Turns out I was having about $45 too much withheld per paycheck!

I just wanted to follow up on my experience with taxr.ai that someone recommended here. I decided to give it a try since I was having the exact same problem with changing jobs and my W4. It was incredibly helpful! The site walked me through a few simple questions about my job change and immediately showed me that I needed to submit a new W4. What surprised me was finding out that by keeping my old W4 with the multiple jobs checkbox, I was having about $175 extra withheld each month! I printed the new W4 it generated, submitted it to HR, and my last paycheck already shows the difference. Now I'm getting more in each paycheck instead of waiting for a big refund next year. Really glad I found this tool - definitely recommend for anyone dealing with job changes mid-year.

If you're struggling to get answers from your HR department about whether they processed your W4, I'd suggest using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually talk to someone at the IRS. I had a similar situation where I wasn't sure if my withholding was correct after changing jobs. I tried calling the IRS directly but kept getting stuck on hold forever. With Claimyr, they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes (you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). The agent was able to look at my withholding records and confirm that I needed to submit a new W4 with my current employer. The IRS agent even explained that when you check the "multiple jobs" box, it applies a specific withholding calculation that wouldn't be appropriate if you now only have one job. My paycheck increased by about $80 after submitting the corrected W4!

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still struggling with my W4 situation similar to the original poster, so I decided to try it anyway. I was absolutely shocked when I got a call back connecting me to an actual IRS representative after about 35 minutes (way better than the 3+ hours I spent trying on my own last month). I explained my situation about changing jobs and my W4, and the agent was incredibly helpful. She confirmed that yes, you ABSOLUTELY need to submit a new W4 when you go from multiple jobs to a single job. The "multiple jobs" checkbox significantly changes your withholding calculations, and keeping it checked when you don't have multiple jobs will result in overwithholding. This service saved me so much time and frustration. I've been trying to get this W4 question answered for weeks! Now I have the official answer straight from the IRS, and I've already submitted my updated form.

I work in payroll and can confirm that you definitely need to submit a new W4. The "multiple jobs" checkbox applies a specific withholding algorithm that's designed to account for having income from multiple sources. When you only have one job, keeping that box checked will cause too much withholding - essentially you're telling your employer "I have other income you don't know about, so withhold extra." That's why HR should have processed your new form. One thing to check - look at your pay stub and see if there's a "Filing Status" or "W4" section. It might indicate "Multiple Jobs" or "M" if you're still using the old form. If your new form was processed, it should show "Single" or "S" instead (assuming you're filing as single).

Has anyone who's been in this situation noticed if their tax return the following year was affected? I'm wondering because I switched from 2 jobs to 1 in November, didn't update my W4, and now I'm worried about what will happen when I file next year.

Yes, you absolutely should update your W4 when you go from multiple jobs to one job! The "multiple jobs" checkbox changes how your withholding is calculated - it assumes you have additional income that needs to be accounted for, so it withholds more from each paycheck. Since you mentioned your pay stub still shows minimal federal withholding and HR questioned your resubmission, it sounds like they may not have processed your new W4 yet. I'd recommend being more direct with HR - explain that you previously had two jobs (which is why you checked that box originally), but now you only have one job, so your withholding needs to be recalculated. You can also double-check by looking at your pay stub for any codes like "MJ" (multiple jobs) in the filing status section. If it still shows that, then your new W4 definitely wasn't processed. The difference in withholding you noticed compared to your old job could be due to different payroll systems, pay periods, or benefit deductions, but getting your W4 situation sorted out should help normalize things. Don't let HR make you feel bad about updating your form - it's completely appropriate to submit a new W4 when your employment situation changes!