How to fill out W-4 withholding correctly with multiple jobs - one full-time and two part-time positions?

The W-4 withholding question is important because it affects how much tax is taken from each paycheck. If you don't account for all your jobs, you might end up owing money next April instead of getting a refund. For your situation with three jobs, you have a few options: The simplest approach is to use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tool on the IRS website. It's designed specifically for people with multiple jobs and will give you the most accurate recommendation for your W-4. If you don't want to use the estimator, you could check the multiple jobs box on your highest-paying job's W-4 (the new full-time position) and leave it unchecked on the other two jobs. This will increase withholding on your main job. Another option is to request additional withholding by adding an extra dollar amount on Line 4(c) of your W-4s. For example, you might add $20-30 extra per paycheck at your full-time job. The risk of just marking "no other jobs" on all three W-4s is potential underwithholding, which means you could owe taxes plus penalties when you file next year.

After struggling with a similar multiple job situation last year, I found this amazing tool that saved me so much headache! I discovered https://taxr.ai when I was trying to figure out my withholding strategy with a full-time job and gig work. The tool analyzed my employment situation and gave me super clear instructions for each W-4 form. What I liked most was how it calculated the exact additional withholding amount I needed for my highest-paying job so I wouldn't have a surprise tax bill. Honestly made the whole process way less stressful than when I tried to figure it out myself.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried the taxr.ai tool that was mentioned and it was actually really helpful for my situation! I entered all my job info (including my unpredictable side gig) and it gave me step-by-step instructions for each W-4. The coolest part was it calculated exactly how much extra withholding to put on line 4(c) for my main job to cover everything. I was honestly surprised how user-friendly it was compared to the IRS calculator I tried last year. Definitely worth checking out if you're juggling multiple jobs like me and the OP.

If you're having trouble reaching the IRS for guidance on this multiple job W-4 situation, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to get through to an IRS agent about a similar withholding issue with multiple W-2s. After getting nowhere with the regular IRS line, I gave Claimyr a try after seeing their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). They actually got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had previously waited for hours only to get disconnected. The agent walked me through exactly how to fill out my W-4s for multiple jobs to avoid owing at tax time.

I need to eat my words from earlier. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr myself for an ongoing tax issue I couldn't resolve. I was SHOCKED when they actually got me through to the IRS in about 15 minutes. The agent I spoke with helped me understand exactly how to handle my multiple W-2 situation (similar to OP's question). They explained that for 2025, the best approach is to use the multiple jobs worksheet on the W-4 rather than just checking the box. Saved me from potential underwithholding issues and the process was WAY easier than the hours I've wasted on hold before. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!

My tax guy told me that for multiple jobs, you should ALWAYS do extra withholding on the W-4. Just checking the box isn't enough, especially if the jobs have very different pay rates. Last year I had a full-time job and weekend retail work and ended up owing $800 because I didn't withhold enough! For your situation, I'd recommend putting at least $25-50 extra withholding per paycheck on the full-time job's W-4 (line 4c). Better to get a refund than owe money!

Kinda confused about one thing - does checking the "multiple jobs" box on the W-4 automatically adjust your withholding or do you still need to fill out the worksheet and put an amount on line 4c? My boyfriend and I both have 2 jobs but we did our W-4s differently and now I'm worried we messed up.

Based on your income situation, I'd strongly recommend being proactive about your withholding rather than just marking "no other jobs" and hoping for the best. With $40k total income across three jobs, you'll definitely want to avoid surprises at tax time. Here's what I'd suggest: Use your new full-time W-4 as your "anchor" - check the multiple jobs box AND add extra withholding on line 4c. Given that your full-time job will be about 62% of your total income, I'd recommend adding around $30-40 per paycheck in additional withholding there. For your Target and bartending jobs, you can leave those W-4s as-is (marking single/no other jobs) since you're handling the adjustment through your main job. The beauty of this approach is that even if you end up quitting the bartending gig, you'll still be covered. And if your Target hours change, you won't be scrambling to update multiple W-4s. You might get a slightly larger refund, but that's much better than owing money plus penalties. You can always adjust the extra withholding amount mid-year if needed.

Given your situation with multiple jobs totaling around $40k, I'd recommend taking a conservative approach to avoid owing taxes next April. Since your new full-time position will be your primary income source, that's where you should make your withholding adjustments. Here's what I'd do: On your new job's W-4, check the multiple jobs box AND add $35-45 extra withholding per paycheck on line 4c. This should cover the tax liability from all three jobs without drastically overwithholding. Keep your Target and bartending W-4s simple - just mark single with no other jobs. Since the bartending income is unpredictable and relatively small, don't stress too much about it. The extra withholding from your main job should provide a good buffer. The key advantage of this approach is flexibility. If you do end up quitting the bartending job, you won't need to scramble to update multiple forms. And if your Target hours fluctuate, the buffer from your main job withholding should still cover you. You can always use the IRS withholding estimator mid-year to fine-tune things once you have a better sense of your actual income patterns. Better to get a modest refund than face penalties for underwithholding!

I've been in a similar situation with multiple jobs and want to emphasize something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you're tracking your income throughout the year, especially with those variable bartending shifts. Since you mentioned you might only work the restaurant 1-2 times per month for around $150 per shift, that could still add up to $1,800-3,600 annually depending on tips. The unpredictable nature of service industry income makes it tricky for any withholding calculator. My recommendation would be to take a middle-ground approach: Use your full-time job's W-4 to handle the heavy lifting by checking the multiple jobs box and adding about $35 per paycheck on line 4c. This should cover your base tax liability from all sources. Then, set aside about 20-25% of your bartending earnings in a separate savings account as you go. If you end up owing a little at tax time, you'll have that cushion. If you don't need it, great - you've got some extra savings! This strategy has saved me from both overwithholding stress and tax-time surprises. Also consider doing a mid-year check-in around July to see how your actual income is tracking against your estimates. You can always submit a new W-4 to adjust if needed.