Why am I getting little to no Federal withholding from my paychecks?

The issue is likely with how your W-4 is filled out. When you have multiple jobs, each employer calculates withholding as if that's your only income, which often leads to underwithholding. With two jobs and claiming 2 dependents, each employer is using a lower tax bracket calculation than your actual combined income would put you in. The withholding tables assume your standard deduction and child tax credits will offset much of your tax liability for a single job. You should immediately update both W-4 forms. For the most accurate withholding: 1. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator tool online 2. Complete Step 2 on your W-4 (the multiple jobs worksheet) 3. Consider reducing your dependent claims or adding an additional amount to withhold Your total annual income across both jobs is about $100,000 ($1,750 + $2,100 × 26 pay periods), which definitely should have federal tax withheld. Without proper withholding, you could face a substantial tax bill plus potential underpayment penalties.

After having similar issues with underwithholding from multiple jobs, I started using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to review my paystubs and tax documents. Their system immediately flagged that I was heading for a big tax bill because of my withholding setup. The tool analyzed my W-4 settings and showed me exactly how to update them for multiple jobs. It also projected what my total tax bill would be based on my current withholding rate compared to what I should be paying. Saved me from a $5,000 surprise tax bill! They even have specific guidance for people with dependents and multiple income sources that explains exactly how the W-4 calculation works.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after posting my question here. It immediately identified why I was having withholding problems! Turns out I had checked the wrong box in Step 2 of my W-4s. The system showed me exactly what was happening with each paycheck and gave me specific instructions for updating both W-4 forms. I've already submitted the new forms to my employers, and their projection shows I'll avoid about $7,200 in tax surprises next April. What was really helpful is they explained I only needed to check the Step 2(c) box on ONE job and leave the other form with just dependents. No wonder I was confused before!

I had the exact same issue last year with multiple jobs and little federal withholding. Ended up owing $4,300 at tax time! After calling the IRS for three days without getting through, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). Their service got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The IRS agent walked me through exactly how to fill out my W-4s for multiple jobs and explained why I wasn't having enough withheld. You can see how the callback works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c It was a game-changer because the agent gave me official guidance specific to my situation with dependents and multiple employers. No more guessing about the W-4!

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I was desperate to talk to the IRS about my withholding issues. It actually worked exactly as described. I registered, got a call back about 45 minutes later, and was connected directly to an IRS representative. The agent explained that with multiple jobs, I needed to either check the box in Step 2(c) on BOTH W-4 forms OR fill out the worksheet and add specific additional withholding amounts. I've already submitted updated W-4s to both employers following the IRS agent's instructions. Apparently, my situation was even more complicated because one job offers benefits that affect taxable income. Definitely wouldn't have figured this out without speaking directly to the IRS.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - the Child Tax Credit might be affecting your withholding calculations. If your dependents are under 17, the system assumes you'll get that credit and reduces withholding accordingly. But with your combined income from two jobs, you might be in the phase-out range where you don't get the full credit. Also check if both employers are using the newest W-4 form (no allowances) or the old one. That can cause confusion too.

Something similar happened to me! Check if you accidentally checked the box that says "Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works" on BOTH W-4 forms. You're only supposed to check it on ONE form, usually the higher-paying job. If you check it on both, they both reduce the withholding assuming the other job is withholding more.