Need help updating W4 after marriage - confused about dependents section

Just tied the knot last month and trying to figure out how to update my W4 correctly. I currently have two jobs - my main gig pays about $62K and my side job brings in around $18K annually. My husband is currently between jobs and not working. I'm planning to file as married filing jointly for next year. When I used the IRS tax withholding calculator to update my W4, it suggested adding $701 in Step 3 (credits for dependents). This has me completely confused since I thought this section was just for children or qualifying dependents - not spouses. Why would it tell me to put money there? My husband isn't my dependent, right? Also struggling with the student loan section on Step 4b (deductions). My loans are in forbearance right now - interest is accruing but I don't have to make payments yet. Should I still include these potential deductions in Step 4b or wait until I'm actually making payments again? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Happy to provide more details if needed.

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18 comments

Carlos Mendoza

•8M

The $701 in Step 3 isn't actually saying your spouse is a dependent - it's just the calculator's way of adjusting your withholding to account for your new filing status. Step 3 can be used for both dependent credits AND other tax credits or adjustments to withholding. Since you're now married filing jointly with only one income, the calculator is basically helping ensure you don't have too much withheld. For student loans, you can include the anticipated interest deduction in Step 4b if you reasonably expect to pay/claim the student loan interest deduction this year. Even though you're not making payments, if interest is accruing and you'll be able to deduct it (up to the $2,500 limit), you can include that estimated amount. Just make a reasonable estimate of what you think the deductible interest will be.

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Carlos Mendoza

•8M

The IRS designed the calculator to use Step 3 for all types of credits, not just dependent credits. It's confusing because the form says "dependents" but they use it as a mathematical adjustment point for various credits and adjustments. The system is essentially converting your tax situation into a dollar amount that achieves the correct withholding. The $701 represents an annual credit amount divided by your remaining pay periods. So if you're paid biweekly, the calculator is figuring out how to adjust your withholding for the rest of the year to get you close to the right total withholding by year-end. You'll want to update again at the beginning of next year.

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Ava Williams

•8M

I went through this exact confusion a few months ago! Try https://taxr.ai - it helped me understand my W4 situation perfectly when I got married. I uploaded my W-2s, answer a few questions about my situation (spouse income, side jobs, etc.) and it explained exactly why the withholding calculator wanted me to put money in the dependents section even though my husband isn't technically my dependent. Their explanation was way clearer than what I found online - apparently the W4 form uses that dependents section for various adjustments beyond just actual dependents. The site also showed me how to handle my student loan interest deduction properly since I was in the same boat with accruing interest.

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Ava Williams

•8M

It absolutely handles complex situations - that's actually where it really shines. It lets you input details about multiple income sources, rental properties, and business income, then explains how it all affects your withholding. Much more detailed than the basic IRS calculator. The basic service is free for simple tax situations, but there's a premium version if you need more detailed analysis or have a complicated tax situation like yours with rentals and a business. I found it worth it since getting my withholding wrong in previous years cost me way more in either a huge tax bill or giving the government an interest-free loan with a big refund.

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Lena Müller

•8M

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after posting my question here and wow what a difference! The explanation they gave for the W4 dependents box totally cleared things up. It's not actually saying your spouse is a dependent - it's just using that box as an adjustment mechanism to reduce withholding. The tool explained that married filing jointly with one spouse not working means you need less withholding overall, and putting that $701 in box 3 achieves exactly that. It's basically their way of accounting for the larger standard deduction and lower tax brackets you get filing jointly. So much clearer than the IRS explanation! Also got good guidance on my student loan interest - since it's still accruing and will be tax deductible (even without payments), I should include it in 4b. Thanks for recommending this!

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TechNinja

•8M

If you're still having trouble with your W4 or need someone at the IRS to explain the specific calculations, try https://claimyr.com - I used it last month when I had a similar issue with my withholding after marriage. Got connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for 3+ hours like I did the first time I tried calling them directly. The agent was able to walk me through exactly why the calculator was suggesting what it did and how to properly account for my spouse's fluctuating income. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Definitely worth it for peace of mind knowing you've got your withholding set up correctly straight from an IRS source.

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TechNinja

•8M

It uses a technology that constantly redials and navigates the IRS phone system until it gets through, then calls you once it has an agent on the line. It's basically doing what you'd have to do manually (call repeatedly) but automated. When they connect you, you're talking to the actual IRS on their official number. I was skeptical too, but it's legitimate. They don't ask for any personal information themselves - they just connect you directly to the IRS phone line once they get through. The service just saves you from having to spend hours hitting redial yourself. When I used it, I verified I was actually speaking with the IRS by checking the official IRS number.

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Paolo Bianchi

•8M

I take back what I said about Claimyr. I was really skeptical but decided to try it because I was desperate to get some answers about my tax situation after reading this thread. It actually works! Got connected to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed everything that was mentioned here about the W4 - they use the dependents box for adjustments even when it doesn't relate to actual dependents. Also got clarification that for student loan interest, you should include the expected deduction in box 4b even if you're not making payments yet, as long as you'll be eligible to claim it. Saved me so much confusion and probably from having the wrong amount withheld.

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Yara Assad

•8M

The W4 form is terribly designed - they should rename Step 3 to "Credits" instead of making it seem like it's only for dependents. I've been doing taxes for 10+ years and even I get confused by the new W4 layout sometimes. Another note: if your income changes significantly during the year, you'll want to redo this calculation. The $701 is based on your current income and projected earnings for the rest of the year. Also check if your second job withholds at the correct rate - multiple jobs often leads to underwithholding if not set up properly.

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Yara Assad

•8M

Definitely redo the entire calculator with your updated income projections. There's no simple adjustment because the calculator is considering tax brackets, your whole annual income, and how much has already been withheld year-to-date. With a 25% increase at your second job, that could potentially push some of your income into a higher tax bracket, so you want the calculator to recompute everything. While you're at it, make sure both jobs have the correct W4 settings. For the highest-paying job, use the results from the calculator. For the second job, you might want to check the box in Step 2(c) or use the multiple jobs worksheet to ensure enough is being withheld there too.

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Olivia Clark

•8M

When I got married I screwed this up and ended up owing $4,300 at tax time. The W4 calculator seems helpful but it assumes uniform income throughout the year. If you just got married and the calculator is telling you to put $701 in Step 3, that number is probably prorated for the remainder of the year. Next January, you should fill out a new W4 for the full year effect. Also, consider if you'll itemize deductions or take the standard deduction - this affects your withholding calculation too.

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