Understanding W4T and W4V forms - what are they used for?

These are specific withholding forms for different types of income. The W-4V is for voluntary withholding from government payments like Social Security, unemployment, or certain agricultural payments. You'd use this if you want taxes withheld from these benefits to avoid owing at tax time. The W4T (sometimes referred to as W-4T) is less common and typically relates to withholding for certain types of trust income or specific state withholding situations. It's not a standard IRS form that most employees need to complete. If your HR department specifically mentioned these, you should ask them for clarification since it's unusual for a regular employer to request these instead of the standard W-4 form for employment income.

I was completely confused about these exact forms last year! After hours of researching and getting nowhere, I finally used taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to figure it out. I uploaded some documents my HR gave me, and they explained everything clearly. Turns out my HR department was using outdated terminology, and what they actually needed was just a regular W-4 with some state-specific withholding forms.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried that taxr.ai site mentioned above after being super confused about these forms. Turns out my HR department was using company-specific abbreviations! What they called a "W4T" was actually just their internal code for a state tax withholding form for Tennessee (hence the T). The AI identified the form from the photo I uploaded and explained everything. Saved me from a ton of confusion and potential withholding errors!

If your HR department isn't being clear about these forms, you might need to speak directly with the IRS. I tried calling them for a similar issue last month and was on hold for HOURS. Eventually found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. The agent confirmed that W-4V is only for government payments and had never heard of a "W4T" as an official form - suggested it might be a company or state-specific form.

Just wanted to follow up - I actually tried that Claimyr service after posting my skeptical comment. I was totally prepared to come back here and call it out as BS, but I'm honestly shocked. Got a call back in about 35 minutes with an IRS rep already on the line. The agent confirmed that W-4V is only for withholding from government benefits, and there's no standard IRS form called "W4T" - they suggested checking with the state tax department or my HR about what they're actually requesting.

I work in HR and can tell you that "W4T" is not a standard IRS form name. Most likely it's either: 1) A state tax withholding form (some states use similar naming conventions) 2) Company-specific terminology 3) A mistake/typo Your best bet is to just ask HR directly what these forms are for. Many HR departments use shorthand or internal codes that cause confusion like this.

Wait, I think I know what your HR might be talking about. Is this for tax withholding from a pension or annuity payment? The W-4P (not T) is used for withholding from pensions, annuities, and certain other deferred income. The W-4V is definitely for voluntary withholding from government payments.

Great to see this got resolved! This is such a common source of confusion. For anyone else reading this thread, here's a quick summary of the actual IRS withholding forms: • W-4: Standard employee withholding (what most people need) • W-4P: Withholding from pensions, annuities, IRAs, etc. • W-4V: VOLUNTARY withholding from government payments (Social Security, unemployment benefits, etc.) • W-4S: Withholding from sick pay (rare) There is no official "W4T" form from the IRS. If your HR mentions this, it's likely company terminology, a state form, or possibly a verbal mix-up with W-4P. Always ask for clarification and the actual form names/numbers to avoid confusion. The IRS website (irs.gov) has all the official forms if you want to double-check what you're being asked to complete.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I work in payroll and see this confusion all the time. Just wanted to add that if you're ever unsure about ANY tax form your employer is asking you to complete, you can always request to see the actual form itself rather than just hearing the name. Sometimes what sounds like "W4T" over the phone is actually "W-4P" or even a state-specific form. Also, remember that completing most withholding forms is about YOUR preference for how much tax to have withheld from your pay - you're not required to have taxes withheld from things like Social Security benefits (W-4V), but some people prefer it to avoid a big tax bill later. When in doubt, ask to speak with someone who can show you the actual forms and explain what income they apply to.

As a tax professional, I want to emphasize something important that came up in this thread - always verify form names directly with the IRS or your tax advisor before completing anything. I've seen too many cases where employees fill out incorrect forms because of miscommunication, leading to withholding issues that take months to resolve. If you're ever in doubt about what your employer is requesting, here's what I recommend: 1. Ask HR to provide the actual form number and show you the physical/digital form 2. Cross-reference it with the official IRS forms list at irs.gov 3. If it's a state form, check your state's tax department website 4. Don't hesitate to ask HR why a specific form is needed for your situation The good news is that most withholding errors can be corrected by filing an amended form, but it's much easier to get it right the first time. Great job everyone for helping sort out the W-4P vs "W4T" confusion!

This has been such an educational thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my new employer mentioned some withholding forms that didn't sound familiar. After reading through all these responses, I realize I need to ask HR to clarify exactly which forms they're referring to and see the actual documents. It's really eye-opening to learn about the different types of withholding forms - I had no idea there were specific ones for pensions (W-4P) and voluntary withholding from government benefits (W-4V). The point about company-specific terminology causing confusion really resonates with me. I think my HR department might be using their own internal codes too. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly the kind of practical information that helps newcomers navigate these confusing situations!

As someone who's been through this exact confusion recently, I wanted to share what I learned! I was in a very similar situation where my HR department mentioned forms that didn't match anything I could find online. After reading through this thread and doing some research, I discovered that many companies use their own internal shorthand or codes for tax forms, which creates a lot of unnecessary confusion for employees. In my case, what HR called a "W4T" was actually just their way of referring to a temporary worker tax form - basically a regular W-4 with some additional state withholding information. The key lesson I took away is to never be afraid to ask HR to show you the actual forms and explain exactly what income or situation each one applies to. Most HR representatives are happy to clarify once they realize there's confusion about the terminology. Also, I found it really helpful to have a basic understanding of the main IRS withholding forms before those conversations. The summary that ApolloJackson provided earlier in this thread is perfect for that - it covers the essential forms (W-4, W-4P, W-4V, W-4S) that most people might encounter. For anyone still dealing with similar confusion, don't stress too much. These withholding issues can usually be corrected if needed, and most employers want to make sure you're filling out the right forms anyway!

This entire discussion has been incredibly enlightening! As someone who just joined this community and is navigating tax forms for the first time at my new job, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing their experiences and expertise. What really stands out to me is how common this confusion actually is - it's not just me feeling lost when HR uses unfamiliar terminology. The pattern seems to be that many companies create their own internal shorthand or codes, which then causes unnecessary stress for employees who can't find these "forms" anywhere online. I particularly appreciate the practical advice throughout this thread: - Always ask to see the actual forms rather than just going by verbal descriptions - Verify form numbers against official IRS documentation - Don't hesitate to ask HR for clarification about why specific forms are needed - Remember that most withholding errors can be corrected if needed The breakdown of official IRS withholding forms (W-4, W-4P, W-4V, W-4S) is going straight into my reference folder. It's so helpful to have a clear list of what these forms are actually for, especially when trying to determine if something your employer mentions is legitimate or just company-specific terminology. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of supportive, educational discussion that makes navigating tax issues so much less intimidating!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my employer mentioned some withholding forms that had me completely puzzled. After reading through everyone's experiences, I realize I was overthinking things. The key takeaway for me is that when employers use unfamiliar form names, it's usually because they're using internal terminology or shorthand rather than official IRS form names. I'm planning to follow the advice shared here - asking my HR department to show me the actual forms and explain what each one is for, rather than just going by the names they mention. It's so reassuring to know that this kind of confusion is common and that most HR departments are willing to clarify once they understand there's been a miscommunication. The summary of official IRS forms (W-4, W-4P, W-4V, W-4S) that was provided earlier is going to be my reference guide. Having that baseline knowledge should help me ask better questions and identify when something might be company-specific terminology. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and professional expertise - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing tax situations!

What an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As a newcomer to both this community and dealing with employment tax forms, I'm amazed at how much I've learned from everyone's experiences. The most valuable insight for me is understanding that "mystery" tax forms mentioned by HR are almost always either company-specific terminology, state forms, or simple miscommunications rather than obscure IRS requirements I should somehow know about. This takes so much stress out of the situation! I'm particularly grateful for the practical action plan that emerged from all the shared experiences: 1. Ask HR to provide the actual form numbers and show you the physical forms 2. Cross-reference against official IRS forms at irs.gov 3. Don't be embarrassed to ask for clarification - it's actually the smart approach 4. Remember that withholding errors can usually be fixed if needed The official IRS withholding forms reference (W-4, W-4P, W-4V, W-4S) is going straight into my bookmark folder. Having that baseline knowledge should help me recognize when something doesn't match up with standard IRS terminology. Thank you to all the community members who shared their expertise and experiences - from the tax professionals providing official guidance to everyone who shared their personal confusion-to-clarity stories. This is exactly the kind of supportive, educational environment that makes navigating tax issues so much less intimidating for newcomers like me!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how comprehensive and helpful this entire discussion has been! I just started my first "real" job after college and was completely panicked when my HR department casually mentioned I needed to fill out some "W4T" and "W4V" forms. Like many others here, I couldn't find these anywhere online and was convinced I was missing something obvious. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief - it's incredibly reassuring to know that this confusion is so common and usually stems from companies using their own internal terminology rather than official IRS form names. The pattern of HR departments creating shorthand or codes that don't match official documentation seems to happen everywhere! What I found most valuable was the consistent advice to ask HR to show you the actual forms rather than just going by verbal descriptions. I was honestly too embarrassed to admit I didn't know what they were talking about, but now I understand that asking for clarification is not only okay but actually the smart, professional approach. The reference list of official IRS withholding forms (W-4, W-4P, W-4V, W-4S) is going straight into my work folder. Having that baseline knowledge should help me identify when something doesn't align with standard IRS terminology and give me confidence to ask the right questions. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise, personal experiences, and practical advice. This community has turned what felt like an overwhelming tax mystery into a manageable situation with clear next steps. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference!

As someone who just went through a very similar situation, I completely understand the confusion! I'm new to this community and relatively new to navigating employment tax forms, so when my HR department mentioned forms I'd never heard of, I immediately started second-guessing myself. What I've learned from this fantastic thread is that the confusion almost always comes from companies using their own internal terminology rather than official IRS form names. It's actually quite common for HR departments to create shorthand or codes that don't align with what you'll find on the IRS website. The approach that's worked best for me (and seems to be the consensus here) is to politely ask HR to show you the actual forms and explain what specific type of income or situation each one addresses. Most HR representatives are totally understanding once they realize there's been miscommunication about form terminology. I'm definitely saving the reference list of official IRS withholding forms that was shared earlier (W-4 for regular employment, W-4P for pensions/annuities, W-4V for voluntary withholding from government benefits, W-4S for sick pay). Having that baseline knowledge makes it so much easier to identify when something might be company-specific terminology. Don't feel embarrassed about asking questions - it's actually the smart, professional approach when dealing with tax withholding. Better to get it right the first time than deal with potential withholding issues later! This community has been incredibly helpful in turning what seemed like a tax mystery into a manageable situation with clear action steps.