Social Security tax withholding W-4V nightmare - can I just drop it off at my local office?

Yes! You can absolutely drop off the W-4V form at your local office. I did this back in November when I started my retirement benefits. Just go to the front desk, tell them you need to submit a W-4V, and they'll take it. No appointment needed. Bring an extra copy for them to stamp as proof you submitted it. My withholding started within 2 payment cycles.

i tried to do the same thing last year and the security guard wouldnt even let me in said i needed appt. but that was during covid stuff so maybe different now idk

Here's the official SSA guidance on this: 1. You CAN drop off a W-4V at your local field office without an appointment 2. Make sure your form includes your SSN clearly at the top 3. The percentage must be 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% (no other amounts) 4. Include a phone number where they can reach you if there's an issue 5. Expect 1-2 months for processing due to current backlogs I recommend calling the national number (1-800-772-1213) very early in the morning (right when they open at 8am) instead of your local office. The wait is usually shorter. Also, if you're concerned about taxes, you can make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS directly instead of waiting for SSA to process the W-4V.

the ssa system is so broken rn. i mailed my w-4v FOUR times and nothing happened!!!! finally got thru on phone after like 2 hrs on hold and they said they never received ANY of them?? how is that possible??

Hello! I work with seniors on tax issues, and this is unfortunately a common problem. The mail backlog at SSA is significant right now. Here's what I suggest: 1. Yes, you can drop off the W-4V in person without an appointment 2. Bring your ID and Social Security card 3. Ask them to date-stamp your copy as proof of submission 4. Take a photo of the stamped copy on your phone before leaving Also, if you're worried about owing taxes, you can make quarterly estimated tax payments directly to the IRS using Form 1040-ES. This is actually a better approach for many people, as you can adjust the amount based on your total income situation rather than just withholding a fixed percentage from SS.

If you're still struggling to reach someone at Social Security after trying to call repeatedly, you might want to check out Claimyr.com. I was in the same situation trying to follow up on my wife's spousal benefits application, and couldn't get through for weeks. Their service connected me to an SSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It saved me multiple days of frustration. Once I got through to an agent, they were able to confirm they had my W-4V on file but it was sitting in a processing queue. The agent escalated it and my withholding started the next month.

Ugh I feel your pain! I spent 3 MONTHS trying to get my withholding set up! The mail system with SSA is BROKEN. Here's what finally worked for me: I went in person, waited in line for about 45 minutes (get there early!), and handed them my W-4V. The person at the desk tried to tell me to mail it in, and I politely but FIRMLY explained I had mailed it multiple times with no success and needed confirmation it was received. They reluctantly took it and gave me a receipt. Withholding started exactly 2 months later. Not ideal but at least it got done. KEEP YOUR RECEIPT!!!

UPDATE: I went to my local office this morning! Got there 30 minutes before they opened and there was already a line, but it moved pretty quickly. The security guard was checking people at the door and I just told him I needed to drop off a W-4V form. He let me in and directed me to a specific window. The person at the desk took my form, entered some info into the computer, and gave me a receipt! She said it would take 4-6 weeks to process but at least now I have proof I submitted it. Thank you all for your help and advice!!!

wait u can have taxes takin out of ss checks?? i didnt know that i been gettin benefits for 2 yrs and always owe at tax time ughhh

Just wanted to share another tip for folks dealing with this issue - if you're tech-savvy, you can actually check the status of your W-4V processing online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Look under "Benefits & Payment Details" and then "Tax Withholding." It might show as "pending" even if they haven't processed it yet, but at least you'll know they received it. Also, for anyone worried about owing taxes while waiting for the withholding to kick in, you can make estimated quarterly payments directly to the IRS using their online payment system (EFTPS) or by mailing Form 1040-ES with a check. This way you're not scrambling come tax season! Emma, glad you got your receipt! That's the most important part - having proof you submitted it.

I'm a new Social Security beneficiary and had no idea about the W-4V form or that you could have taxes withheld directly from benefits! This whole thread has been incredibly educational. Emma, congratulations on finally getting it sorted out - that receipt is going to be your lifesaver if any issues come up later. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1. Going in person is much more reliable than mailing 2. Get there early to avoid long lines 3. Ask for a receipt or stamped copy as proof 4. Be prepared to wait 4-6 weeks for processing 5. Consider quarterly estimated payments as a backup I'm definitely going to look into setting up withholding for my benefits. Better to be proactive now than deal with a huge tax bill next April! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - filed my W-4V twice by mail with zero results. Reading about everyone's experiences has convinced me that going in person is definitely the way to go. One question for those who've successfully done this - do you recommend bringing any additional documentation besides the W-4V form itself? I have my Social Security card and driver's license, but wondering if I should bring anything else like a copy of my award letter or recent benefit statement? Also, has anyone noticed if certain days of the week or times of day are better for shorter wait times at the local offices? I'm retired so I have flexibility in when I can go, and would love to avoid the longest lines if possible! Thanks again to Emma for sharing her successful experience and to everyone else for all the helpful tips. This community is amazing!

Thanks for sharing this detailed experience, Emma! I'm in a very similar situation - started receiving benefits in February and have been trying to get withholding set up ever since. I've mailed the W-4V twice with no luck, and like you, I can never get through on the phone. Your success story gives me hope! I'm planning to visit my local office next week. A couple of quick questions for you or anyone else who's done this: 1. Did you need to fill out any additional paperwork at the office, or was just bringing the completed W-4V sufficient? 2. How long did you actually wait in line once they opened? 3. Did they give you any estimate on when you might see the withholding start showing up? I'm also going to look into those quarterly estimated payments that others mentioned as a backup plan. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - it's so much more helpful than the vague information you get from the official SSA website!