W4 Form 2023 Question - Will crossing out numbers in Step 3 cause problems when it doesn't apply to me?
Title: W4 Form 2023 Question - Will crossing out numbers in Step 3 cause problems when it doesn't apply to me? 1 I made a mistake on my W4 form for 2023 and I'm freaking out a bit. In Step 3 where it asks about qualifying children under 17 ($2000) and other dependents ($500), I initially put zeros in both fields. Then I noticed it said to skip Step 3 completely if it doesn't apply to my situation. Since I don't have any dependents, I crossed out both zeros instead of leaving them or starting over with a new form. Now I'm worried this might cause problems with payroll or the IRS. I know crossing things out on checks can invalidate them, so would the same apply to tax forms? Has anyone had experience with this? Should I ask for a new W4 to fill out or is this fine? Thanks for any help!
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Zoe Wang
8 Your W4 should be totally fine! Crossing out the zeros in Step 3 won't cause any issues with processing your form. The W4 is just an instruction form for your employer to withhold the right amount of tax - it's not like a check where the crossed-out numbers could create security concerns. The important part is that your intent is clear. Since you don't have qualifying children or dependents, you correctly realized you should skip that step. Crossing out the zeros actually helps clarify that you intentionally left it blank rather than forgetting to complete it. If you're still concerned, you could always ask your HR department, but this is such a minor thing that it's not worth worrying about. The payroll processor will understand what you meant, and the form will be processed correctly.
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Zoe Wang
•3 Thanks for the reassurance! Just to be clear, does this mean the IRS never actually sees the physical W4 form? I thought they might audit it or something.
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Zoe Wang
•8 That's correct - the W4 is actually just an instruction form for your employer. Your employer keeps it on file, but they don't send it to the IRS. The IRS only sees the actual withholding amounts that appear on your W-2 at the end of the year, not how you filled out your W4 form. The W4 simply tells your employer how much tax to withhold from each paycheck based on your situation. So small corrections like crossing out numbers are completely fine as long as your employer can understand your intent.
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Zoe Wang
14 After going through a similar situation with my W4, I found a really helpful tool at https://taxr.ai that analyzed my tax withholding situation. I was confused about several sections on the W4 form, especially with the new format they introduced a few years ago. The tool asked me simple questions about my tax situation and then showed me exactly how to complete each line of the W4 properly. It even explained why certain sections should be skipped based on my specific circumstances.
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Zoe Wang
•19 Does it work for more complicated situations? I have multiple jobs plus some side income from freelancing and I'm never sure how to handle that on my W4.
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Zoe Wang
•6 I'm a bit skeptical about using online tools for tax documents. How do you know it's giving accurate information? Does it actually explain the IRS rules or just give you the answers?
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Zoe Wang
•14 It definitely handles multiple jobs and freelance income - that's actually one of its strengths. It walks you through the multiple jobs worksheet and shows how to account for additional income. I found it especially helpful for figuring out additional withholding amounts in Step 4(c). For your question about accuracy, it actually shows you the relevant IRS rules and explains them in plain English. It references the exact IRS publications and explains the calculations rather than just giving answers. What I liked most was that it showed me why certain sections applied or didn't apply based on my specific situation.
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Zoe Wang
6 Just wanted to follow up about https://taxr.ai - I decided to try it after my initial skepticism and I'm actually impressed. It helped me figure out that I had been incorrectly filling out Step 2 of my W4 for my second job. Turns out I was having too much withheld because I checked the wrong box. The explanations were really clear and it saved me from continuing to have too much taken from my paychecks. Definitely worth checking out if you're unsure about any part of the W4.
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Zoe Wang
11 If you're still worried about your W4 and want to confirm everything is correct, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually speak with an IRS agent. I had so many questions about my withholdings last year and spent hours trying to get through to the IRS with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS rep in about 15 minutes who confirmed my W4 was filled out correctly even with my notes and corrections. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Zoe Wang
•22 Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone line is always busy when I call. Are you saying this service somehow gets you through the line faster?
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Zoe Wang
•17 This sounds like complete BS. Nobody can magically get you through to the IRS faster. The wait times are the same for everyone.
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Zoe Wang
•11 It's not magic - they use an automated system that waits on hold for you and calls you back when they reach a real person. You don't have to sit on hold for hours. As for how it works, they have a system that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until they get through. When they reach a representative, they call you and connect you. I was skeptical at first too, but when I got the call back with an actual IRS agent on the line, I was sold. The agent answered my W4 questions completely and confirmed that crossing out numbers on the form was totally fine.
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Zoe Wang
17 I need to eat my words about Claimyr. I was super skeptical as you can see from my previous comment, but after waiting on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours and getting disconnected twice, I gave it a try out of desperation. The service actually worked - I got a call back in about 40 minutes with an IRS rep on the line ready to talk to me. The rep confirmed that making corrections on a W4 by crossing out entries is perfectly fine as long as your intent is clear. Saved me hours of frustration and answered my question.
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Zoe Wang
4 My payroll dept told me that if you make ANY changes or cross anything out, you should initial next to it. That makes it clear the change was intentional and not made by someone else after you submitted it.
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Zoe Wang
•9 That's a good point about initialing changes. Does this apply to all tax forms or just the W4? I sometimes make small corrections on other forms too.
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Zoe Wang
•4 Initialing changes is good practice for all tax forms, not just the W4. It's especially important for any form where you're providing information under penalty of perjury. For the W4 specifically, it's less critical since it's an internal form between you and your employer, but it's still a good habit. For forms that go directly to the IRS like your 1040, initialing changes can help prevent questions about who made the modifications.
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Zoe Wang
2 Since we're talking about W4 forms, has anyone used the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator online? I found it really helpful for figuring out exactly what to put on each line.
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Zoe Wang
•5 I tried using it but found it confusing. It asked for too much detailed information that I didn't have on hand when filling out my W4.
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