How should I file my taxes when working two jobs? W-4 confusion!

The general recommendation is to check the multiple jobs box on only ONE W-4 form, preferably for the higher-paying job. This helps ensure you have enough tax withheld overall. When you have two jobs, the tax brackets apply to your total income, but each employer only withholds based on what they pay you. If you don't account for the additional income, you could end up owing taxes when you file because neither employer withheld enough. For the most accurate withholding, you can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on the IRS website, which will give you specific instructions for both W-4 forms. You can enter information for both jobs and get customized withholding recommendations.

I went through the exact same situation last year and found this amazing tool that saved me from a huge headache - https://taxr.ai really helped me figure out the right way to fill out my W-4s for multiple jobs. You upload your paystubs and it analyzes your current withholding across both jobs to recommend the perfect adjustments. I was worried about getting hit with a huge tax bill because my second job wasn't withholding enough, but the tool caught that immediately and gave me specific numbers to put on line 4(c) of my W-4 for additional withholding. Totally took the guesswork out of the process.

Just wanted to update that I finally tried https://taxr.ai after my skeptical questions earlier. I'm honestly impressed - it pointed out that I was significantly underwithholding even though I thought I had set everything up correctly. The tool showed exactly how much extra to withhold from each paycheck to avoid owing at tax time. I especially liked that it gave me different options - I could either adjust both W-4s or just make a change to one. I chose to just update my primary job's W-4 with some additional withholding on line 4(c), and it's been working great. My last paycheck showed the adjusted withholding and everything looks on track now.

For anyone struggling with the IRS about W-4 questions or past issues with multiple jobs, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com to actually get through to a real person at the IRS. I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone about how to handle my withholding for my second job and kept getting disconnected after hours on hold. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who walked me through exactly how to fill out my W-4s properly. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - they basically wait on hold for you and call when an agent is available. Total game changer if you need specific answers from the IRS themselves.

Well I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After another failed attempt to reach the IRS myself this morning (45 minutes on hold before being disconnected), I broke down and tried the Claimyr service. I'm shocked to say it actually worked perfectly. Got a call back in about 35 minutes and was connected directly to an IRS representative who answered all my questions about handling withholding for multiple jobs. The agent confirmed I should only check the multiple jobs box on one W-4 (my higher-paying job) and gave me specific advice for my situation. I was genuinely surprised at how smoothly it went after weeks of failed attempts on my own. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!

Another option not mentioned yet - you can skip checking the multiple jobs box entirely and instead use the "extra withholding" option (line 4c) on your W-4. That's what I do with my two jobs. I just used the IRS Withholding Calculator, added up what my total withholding should be for the year, compared it to what would be withheld by default from both jobs, and then added an extra $175 per paycheck from my main job to make up the difference. This way I get a more precise amount withheld rather than the estimate that checking the box gives you.

Everybody making this way too complicated lol. Just do this: 1. Don't check multiple jobs box on either W4 2. Both jobs will withhold like they're your only job 3. Since tax brackets are progressive, you'll probably have enough withheld Been doing this with 3 jobs for years and usually get a small refund. Way easier than all that extra withholding math stuff.

I've been through this exact situation and want to emphasize how important it is to get this right. With your income levels ($42K + $15K = $57K total), you're definitely at risk of underwithholding if you don't handle the multiple jobs properly. Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience: 1. **Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator first** - This should be your starting point. It's free and will give you specific guidance for your exact situation. 2. **Check the multiple jobs box on your main job's W-4 only** - Since that's your higher-paying position at $42K, this is where you want the adjustment. 3. **Monitor your first few paychecks** - Make sure the withholding looks reasonable. If it seems like too much is being taken out, you can always adjust. The key thing to remember is that your total income of $57K puts you in a higher tax bracket than either job would calculate individually. Your restaurant job might only withhold taxes as if you're making $15K total (very low tax rate), not realizing you're actually in a higher bracket due to your combined income. I made the mistake of not addressing this properly one year and ended up owing $1,800 at tax time. It's much better to have slightly too much withheld and get a small refund than to face a big tax bill in April.

I just went through this same situation last month! One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to also consider the timing of when you started your second job. Since you mentioned it's recent, you might want to be extra careful about underwithholding for the remainder of this tax year. If you started the restaurant job partway through the year, your total annual income will be lower than the full $57K ($42K + $15K), but your withholding calculations should still account for the combined income from the point you started the second job forward. I'd definitely echo what others said about using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator - it has a section where you can input when you started each job during the year, which gives you a more accurate picture. When I used it for my mid-year second job start, it recommended I add about $85 per paycheck in extra withholding on my main job's W-4 (line 4c) rather than just checking the multiple jobs box. Also, don't forget that your restaurant job will likely have different pay periods and possibly irregular hours, which can make the withholding calculations trickier. Keep good records of both paystubs so you can track if you're staying on target throughout the year!

Great discussion everyone! As someone who also juggles multiple income sources, I wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - quarterly estimated tax payments. Since Omar mentioned the restaurant job will bring in about $15K annually, depending on how that income is classified (W-2 vs 1099), there might be additional planning needed. If any portion of that restaurant income is reported as 1099 contractor work rather than traditional W-2 employment, you'll need to account for self-employment taxes on top of regular income taxes. Even with W-2 income from both jobs, if you find that adjusting your withholding isn't quite getting you where you need to be, you can always make quarterly estimated payments to cover any gaps. This gives you more flexibility than trying to get the withholding perfect, especially with variable hours at the restaurant. I'd also suggest doing a quick check-in around September or October - run through the IRS estimator again with your actual year-to-date numbers from both jobs. This gives you one last chance to make any final adjustments before year-end if needed. Better to catch any issues in the fall than get surprised in April!

Great thread everyone! I just want to emphasize something that might not be obvious - the "multiple jobs" checkbox on the W-4 actually uses a pretty simplified calculation that assumes both jobs are worked simultaneously for the full year. Since you started your restaurant job recently, you might get more accurate withholding by skipping that checkbox entirely and instead calculating the exact additional withholding needed using line 4(c). Here's why: The multiple jobs checkbox essentially takes your annual income from the higher-paying job, finds the tax on that amount, then finds the tax on your total combined income, and withholds the difference. But if you only worked the second job for part of the year, this creates an over-withholding situation. For your situation ($42K main job + partial year restaurant work), I'd recommend: 1. Use the IRS withholding estimator with your actual start date for the restaurant job 2. Input realistic projections for your restaurant earnings through year-end 3. Use the specific dollar amount it recommends for line 4(c) rather than the checkbox This approach has worked really well for me with seasonal and mid-year job changes. You'll get much more precise withholding that accounts for the actual timing of your income rather than the simplified assumptions built into the multiple jobs checkbox.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation - just started a part-time evening job at a retail store while keeping my full-time day job. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key takeaway is to be really careful about not under-withholding. One thing I'm curious about that I didn't see mentioned - how do bonuses from either job factor into this? My main job gives annual bonuses in December, and I'm wondering if that could throw off my withholding calculations since it's hard to predict the exact amount. Also, for those who have used the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, how user-friendly is it really? I tried using some online tax calculators before and they were confusing as heck. Is the official IRS one actually easier to navigate? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice I needed to hear!