Federal tax not being taken out of my paycheck since switching to married filing jointly status

This is actually a pretty common confusion with the new W-4 form. When you select "married filing jointly," the withholding tables assume your spouse doesn't work, which can result in little to no federal tax being withheld if your income is on the lower end. The multiple jobs worksheet was the right approach, but there are two ways to handle this. Either have additional withholding on the higher-income spouse's W-4 (which you did), OR both of you can check the box in Step 2(c) for "multiple jobs" which essentially withholds at the higher single rate. It sounds like you chose the first option, but the changes may not have been processed yet. Payroll systems can take 1-2 pay periods to update withholding. If another paycheck comes with no federal withholding, I'd recommend speaking directly with your HR or payroll department. Don't panic though! The fact that your spouse has higher income and likely higher withholding means you're probably covered to some extent. You can also use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator online to get a more precise picture of where you stand.

Had a similar issue last year that drove me nuts trying to figure out! After spending hours on the phone with multiple people, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me understand exactly what was happening with my withholding. You upload your paystubs and W-4 information, and it explains whether your withholding is correct based on your specific situation. In my case, it turned out there wasn't actually a problem - the system was working as designed based on our total household income and how we'd filled out our forms. I was just used to seeing federal tax come out of every check from when I was single. The tool showed me our projected yearly tax and whether we were on track with withholding across both jobs.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was super helpful! I uploaded both our pay stubs and W-4 info, and it showed that even with my minimal withholding, we're actually on track for the year because of my husband's higher withholding rate. What I really liked was how it explained WHY this happens with married filing jointly status. Apparently when both spouses work but one earns significantly more, the tax brackets work in a way that sometimes very little needs to be withheld from the lower earner. The tool showed exactly what our expected refund would be based on current withholding patterns. Completely worth checking out if you're in this situation - saved me from unnecessarily adjusting my W-4 again and gave me peace of mind!

If you're still having trouble with this after talking to HR, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with the IRS directly. I went around in circles with my employer's payroll department for WEEKS about a similar withholding issue, and nobody could give me a straight answer. Finally used Claimyr to get through to an actual IRS agent (you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) instead of waiting on hold forever. The agent explained exactly how the married filing jointly withholding works and confirmed what I needed to do with my W-4. Turns out my HR department was applying the wrong withholding table to my checks! Had it fixed within a day after the IRS call.

I take back what I said about Claimyr. I was totally skeptical but decided to try it yesterday after getting disconnected THREE TIMES trying to reach the IRS myself. The service actually worked exactly as described - I got a call back about 90 minutes after signing up with an IRS agent already on the line. The agent confirmed what others here have said - with married filing jointly, the withholding tables assume your spouse doesn't work. She explained I needed to check the box in Step 2(c) for multiple jobs on BOTH our W-4 forms, not just add extra withholding on one. She actually walked me through filling out the form correctly while on the phone. I've already submitted the corrected forms to our HR department. Would've taken me weeks to figure this out on my own with all the conflicting advice online.

Has anyone mentioned that you might need to specify an additional dollar amount to be withheld from each paycheck? When my husband and I first got married, we had similar issues. On Part 4 of the W-4, there's a line for "Extra withholding." We ended up putting $50 per paycheck for me and $100 for him, and that solved our underwithholding problem. The married filing jointly tables are designed with the assumption of either one income or two equal incomes, which rarely matches reality. If you don't want to do the multiple jobs worksheet (which is confusing af), just add that extra withholding as a buffer.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned this yet - but you should check if your income alone falls below the standard deduction for MFJ. For 2025, the standard deduction for married filing jointly is projected to be around $29,200. If your annual income is below or close to that, it would make sense that you might not have any federal tax withheld. This is actually totally normal and not a problem as long as your spouse's withholding covers your total tax liability as a couple.

Make sure your HR department actually processed your new W-4 correctly! I had an issue where I submitted an updated form but they never actually entered it into the payroll system. When I finally got someone to check, they found my form sitting in a folder untouched for 3 months. Also, double check that your employer hasn't accidentally classified you as exempt. Sometimes there can be data entry errors where someone checks the wrong box in the system.

I just went through this exact same situation! The key thing to understand is that when you're married filing jointly, the withholding system looks at your individual income against the MFJ tax brackets, not your combined household income. Since your wife makes about twice what you do, your individual income probably falls into a very low tax bracket where minimal or no federal tax needs to be withheld. Here's what I'd recommend: First, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (it's free on IRS.gov) to get a clear picture of your total tax liability vs. what's being withheld between both your paychecks. This will tell you if you actually have a problem or if the system is working correctly. If you do need more withholding, the simplest fix is often to add a flat dollar amount in Part 4 of your W-4 (Extra withholding). Start with something like $25-50 per paycheck and adjust from there. This is much easier than trying to perfect the multiple jobs worksheet. Don't panic - many couples have this "imbalanced" withholding pattern and it works out fine at tax time. The important thing is that your total household withholding covers your total tax liability, not that each person's withholding perfectly matches their individual contribution to the tax bill.

I went through this exact same panic when I got married last year! The key thing that finally helped me understand was realizing that the withholding system for married filing jointly is designed around the assumption that you're pooling your income and tax liability as a household unit, not as individuals. What's likely happening is that your individual income, when run through the MFJ withholding tables, doesn't generate enough tax liability to require withholding - especially after accounting for your portion of the standard deduction and lower tax brackets. Meanwhile, your wife's higher income is probably being withheld at a higher rate that's meant to cover both of you. Before you stress too much, I'd strongly recommend using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to see your projected year-end situation. Input both of your incomes, current withholding amounts, and any deductions you expect to claim. This will show you whether you're actually on track or if you need to make adjustments. If you do end up owing, remember that as long as you pay at least 90% of this year's tax liability OR 100% of last year's (whichever is smaller), you won't face penalties. You can always make estimated tax payments quarterly if needed. The system can definitely feel weird when you're used to seeing federal tax come out of every check, but it might actually be working exactly as intended!

I completely understand your panic - I went through the exact same thing when I got married two years ago! The married filing jointly withholding system is honestly pretty confusing at first. What's happening is totally normal. When you select "married filing jointly" on your W-4, the withholding tables assume your spouse either doesn't work or earns a similar amount. Since your wife makes about twice what you do, the system is calculating that very little (or no) federal tax needs to be withheld from your lower income when viewed against the MFJ tax brackets and standard deduction. Here's my advice: Don't panic and make changes until you know if there's actually a problem. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov first - input both of your incomes, current withholding amounts, and expected deductions. This will show you your projected tax liability versus what's being withheld across both paychecks. I bet you'll find that your wife's higher withholding rate is already covering your combined tax liability. That's exactly what happened in my case - even though my paychecks had minimal federal withholding, we still got a refund because my husband's withholding was calculated to cover us both. If you do find you need more withholding after checking, the simplest fix is adding a flat dollar amount in Part 4 of your W-4 rather than wrestling with that confusing multiple jobs worksheet again.

I had this exact same issue when I got married! The thing that helped me understand it was realizing that the married filing jointly withholding tables are designed with the assumption that you're filing as one tax unit, not two separate individuals. When your individual income gets run through the MFJ withholding calculations, it's being evaluated against the much higher standard deduction ($29,200 for 2025) and the lower tax brackets that apply to married couples. Since you're the lower earner in your household, your individual income probably doesn't generate enough tax liability to require withholding. Meanwhile, your wife's paychecks are likely being withheld at a rate that's designed to cover your combined household tax liability. This is actually how the system is supposed to work for married couples with different income levels. Before you make any more changes to your W-4, I'd strongly recommend using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on their website. Input both of your incomes, current withholding amounts, and any deductions you plan to claim. This will give you a clear picture of whether you're actually on track for the year or if adjustments are needed. In many cases like yours, couples find out they're actually going to get a refund even though one spouse has little to no federal tax withheld. The key is looking at your total household withholding versus your total tax liability, not trying to match each person's withholding to their individual income contribution.

I completely understand your panic - I went through this exact same situation when I got married three years ago! The married filing jointly withholding system is honestly one of the most confusing aspects of taxes that nobody really explains to newlyweds. What's happening to you is actually very common and likely correct. When you select "married filing jointly" on your W-4, the withholding tables make certain assumptions about your household income distribution. Since your wife earns about twice what you do, the system is calculating that very little federal tax needs to be withheld from your individual paycheck when your income is evaluated against the MFJ tax brackets and the higher standard deduction. Here's what I wish someone had told me back then: your wife's paycheck is probably being withheld at a rate that's designed to cover BOTH of your tax liabilities as a married couple. This is actually how the system is supposed to work - it's looking at your combined household situation, not trying to perfectly match each person's withholding to their individual income. Before you make any more changes or stress about owing money, please use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov. Input both of your incomes, all current withholding amounts, and your expected deductions. I'm willing to bet it will show you're actually on track for the year, possibly even for a small refund. In my case, even though my federal withholding dropped to almost zero after marriage, we ended up getting money back at tax time because my husband's higher withholding rate had us more than covered. The system was working exactly as intended - I just didn't understand it at first!

I completely understand your panic about this situation! When I first got married and updated my W-4 to married filing jointly, I had the exact same experience - zero federal tax being withheld from my paychecks even though I was clearly earning taxable income. What you're experiencing is actually quite normal and likely working as intended. The married filing jointly withholding tables operate under the assumption that you're pooling your income as a household unit. When the payroll system calculates withholding for your individual income, it's applying the much higher MFJ standard deduction (around $29,200 for 2025) and the lower tax bracket thresholds that apply to married couples. Since your wife earns about twice what you do, her paychecks are probably being withheld at a rate designed to cover your combined tax liability as a married couple. This is actually how the system is supposed to work - it doesn't try to perfectly match each spouse's withholding to their individual income contribution. Before you make any more adjustments or worry about owing thousands, I'd strongly recommend using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov. Input both of your current incomes, withholding amounts, and expected deductions. I suspect you'll find that you're actually on track for the year, possibly even for a small refund. If the estimator shows you do need more withholding, adding a flat dollar amount in Part 4 of your W-4 (like $25-50 per paycheck) is often simpler than trying to perfect the multiple jobs worksheet. But definitely check your actual projected tax situation first before making changes!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through the exact same panic when I got married last year! Reading through all these responses, it's clear that what you're experiencing is actually very common and likely not a problem at all. The most important thing I learned from my experience is that the married filing jointly withholding system is designed completely differently from single filing. When you were single, your withholding was calculated based on your individual income against the single tax brackets. Now that you're married, the system is looking at your individual income but applying it against the much larger MFJ standard deduction and different tax bracket structure. What really clicked for me was understanding that your wife's higher withholding isn't just covering her taxes - it's calculated to cover BOTH of your tax liabilities as a married couple. The system assumes you're pooling your resources, which is exactly what happens when you file jointly. I'd echo what several others have said about using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator before making any more changes. When I finally did this, I discovered we were actually going to get a refund despite my minimal federal withholding. It completely eliminated my anxiety about the situation. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: even if you do end up owing a small amount at tax time, as long as you pay at least 90% of this year's tax OR 100% of last year's tax (whichever is smaller), there are no penalties. So even in a worst-case scenario, you're not in as much trouble as it might feel like right now. Hang in there - the system is probably working exactly as it should, even though it feels completely wrong when you're used to seeing federal tax deducted from every paycheck!

I'm seeing a lot of great advice in this thread, but I want to add one practical tip that helped me when I was in your exact situation last year: ask your HR department to show you exactly how they're calculating your withholding in their payroll system. When I was panicking about zero federal withholding after getting married, I discovered that our HR person could pull up a screen showing the actual withholding calculation - your income, filing status, allowances, and exactly which tax table they were using. This helped me confirm that the system was working correctly and wasn't due to a data entry error. In my case, it turned out that my $28,000 salary minus pre-tax deductions for health insurance and 401k contributions put my taxable income right around the standard deduction threshold for MFJ. Once I saw the actual math, it made perfect sense why no federal tax was being withheld. Also, if you do end up needing to make adjustments after running the IRS calculator, I found it helpful to make small changes and monitor for a few pay periods rather than making big corrections all at once. You can always adjust again if needed, but it's easier to fine-tune than to overcorrect and end up with too much withholding. The anxiety around this is so real when you're used to seeing federal tax come out of every check, but in most cases the system is actually working as designed for married couples with income differences!

I went through this exact same situation when I got married two years ago! The panic is so real when you're used to seeing federal tax deducted from every paycheck as a single filer. Here's what I learned: the married filing jointly withholding system is fundamentally different from single filing. When you select MFJ on your W-4, the system doesn't just change a few numbers - it completely changes how your withholding is calculated. Your individual income is now being evaluated against the much higher MFJ standard deduction ($29,200 for 2025) and different tax bracket thresholds. Since your wife earns about twice what you do, her paychecks are likely being withheld at a rate designed to cover BOTH of your tax liabilities as a married couple. This is actually how it's supposed to work - the system treats you as one tax unit pooling resources, not two separate taxpayers. Before you make any more W-4 changes, please use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov. Input both incomes, current withholding amounts, and expected deductions. I bet you'll find you're actually on track for the year, possibly even for a small refund like I was. The key mental shift is understanding that your zero federal withholding doesn't mean something's broken - it likely means your individual income doesn't generate enough tax liability when viewed through the MFJ lens, while your wife's higher withholding covers your combined household tax bill. Don't let the anxiety drive you to make unnecessary changes until you know if there's actually a problem!

I completely understand your panic - this exact same thing happened to me when I got married last year! The married filing jointly withholding system is honestly one of the most confusing things about taxes that nobody really prepares you for as newlyweds. What's happening is actually very normal and likely correct. When you select "married filing jointly" on your W-4, the withholding calculations change completely. Your individual income is now being evaluated against the much higher MFJ standard deduction (around $29,200 for 2025) and different tax brackets. Since your wife earns about twice what you do, your individual salary probably doesn't generate enough tax liability to require federal withholding when run through these MFJ tables. Here's the key insight that finally clicked for me: your wife's paychecks aren't just covering her taxes - they're likely being withheld at a rate designed to cover BOTH of your tax liabilities as a married couple. The system treats you as one combined tax unit now, not two separate taxpayers. Before you make any more changes or stress about owing money, please use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov. Input both of your incomes, current withholding amounts, and expected deductions. When I finally did this, I discovered we were actually going to get a small refund despite my zero federal withholding! The system was working exactly as intended - I just didn't understand it. Don't let the anxiety drive you to make unnecessary adjustments until you know if there's actually a problem. In most cases like yours, everything is working correctly even though it feels completely wrong when you're used to seeing federal tax come out of every check.