Berkeley CSUA MOTD:Entry 41506
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2025/04/04 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular
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2006/1/24-25 [Reference/Tax] UID:41506 Activity:nil
1/24    Tax question. Currently my tax withhold is "2" (single). Usually
        I get back a few grand every year from Uncle Sam because of too
        much tax withheld. However, someone told me that it's better to
        put down "3" so that you have more in the bank to accumulate
        interest rate, and pay back Uncle Sam later. The overall gain
        would be the interest rate from the few grands that the government
        withheld. Has anyone done this and is it particularly bad? Thanks.
        \_ Everyone does it.  I think I'm claiming 6 for withholding
           purposes right now.  Your goal should probably be to be close
           to breaking even when tax time comes around; if you get a bunch
           of money back, you gave the government an interest-free loan,
           and if you have to pay a bunch of money, you might also have to
           pay a penalty.  -tom
        \_ If you withhold too little you will be subject to
           http://www.irs.gov/publications/p505/ch04.html .  Whether it's
           a good idea to withhold more or less really depends on your
           spending habits.
           \_ Note that you can also be penalized for withholding too
              much. You should owe/overpay within 10% of the amount due.
              \_ Wow, I didn't know there's an overpayment penalty.  Do you
                 have a pointer to more info re that?
                 \_ I bet this entirely academic, but ...
                 \_ I bet this is entirely academic, but ...
                    http://www.irs.gov/govt/fslg/article/0,,id=112714,00.html
                    "An employee who files a false Form W-4 may be subject
                    to a $500 penalty."  Of course, it depends on what the
                    meaning of "false" is:  "Sometimes this cannot be done
                    simply by claiming an exemption for each member of a
                    family. The employee may be entitled to additional
                    withholding allowances, as provided in the regulations.
                    Code section 3402(m), section 31.3402(m)1, Employment Tax
                    Regulations."
                    to a $500 penalty."
                    \_ Unfortunately this doesn't say there's an overpayment
                       penalty.  To be honest, I was suprised to hear that
                       the IRS would penalize overpayment, no matter by how
                       much.
        \_ Don't forget that you need to pay tax on the interest from your
           bank account, so the overall gain is lower than you think.
2025/04/04 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular
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www.irs.gov/publications/p505/ch04.html
The penalty for underpayment of 2004 estimated tax is figured at an annual rate of 5% for the number of days the underpayment remained unpaid from April 15, 2004, through June 30, 2004; When figuring the penalty for failure to pay estimated income tax, you generally must include with your estimated taxes any household employment taxes that you may have to pay. You will not be liable for the penalty for failure to pay estimated income tax if the total tax shown on your return minus the amount you paid through withholding (including excess social security and railroad retirement tax withholding) is less than $1,000. You generally do not need to figure your underpayment penalty. You only need to figure your penalty in the following three situations. Introduction If you did not pay enough tax either through withholding or by making estimated tax payments, you will have an underpayment of estimated tax and you may have to pay a penalty. Having completed copies of your latest federal income tax returns may help you through this chapter. Generally, you will not have to pay a penalty for 2004 if any of the following situations applies. If you think you owe the penalty, but you do not want to figure it yourself when you file your tax return, you may not have to. Generally, the IRS will figure the penalty for you and send you a bill. However, you must complete Form 2210 or Form 2210-F and attach it to your return if you think you are able to lower or eliminate your penalty. Topics - This chapter discusses: * The general rule for the underpayment penalty, * Special rules for certain individuals, * Exceptions to the underpayment penalty, * How to figure your underpayment and the amount of your penalty on Form 2210, and * How to ask IRS to waive the penalty. Useful Items - You may want to see: Form (and Instructions) * 2210 Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates, and Trusts * 2210-F Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Farmers and Fishermen See chapter 5 for information about getting these forms. General Rule In general, you may owe a penalty for 2004 if the total of your withholding and estimated tax payments did not equal at least the smaller of: 1 90% of your 2004 tax, or 2 100% of your 2003 tax. There are special rules for farmers and fishermen, and for certain higher income taxpayers. If at least two-thirds of your gross income for 2003 or 2004 is from farming or fishing, substitute 66 2/3% for 90% in above. If less than two-thirds of your gross income for 2003 and 2004 is from farming or fishing and your adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2003 was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if your filing status is married filing a separate return in 2004), substitute 110% for 100% in above. For 2003, AGI is the amount shown on Form 1040, line 34; and Form 1040EZ, line 4 Penalty figured for each period. Because the penalty is figured separately for each payment period, you may owe a penalty for a payment period even if you later paid enough to make up the underpayment. If you did not pay enough tax by the due date of any of the payment periods, you may owe a penalty even if you are due a refund when you file your income tax return. Example 41 You did not make estimated tax payments for 2004 because you thought you had enough tax withheld from your wages. Early in January 2005, you made an estimate of your total 2004 tax. Then you realized that your withholding was $2,000 less than the amount needed to avoid a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax. On January 10, you made an estimated tax payment of $3,000, which is the difference between your withholding and your estimate of your total tax. Your final return shows your total tax to be $50 less than your estimate, so you are due a refund. You do not owe a penalty for your payment due January 15, 2005. However, you may owe a penalty through January 10, 2005, (the day you made the $3,000 payment) for your underpayments for the earlier payment periods. If you miss a payment or you paid less than the minimum required in a period, you may be charged an underpayment penalty from the date the amount was due to the date the payment is made. If you file an amended return by the due date of your original return, use the tax shown on your amended return to figure your required estimated tax payments. If you file an amended return after the due date of the original return, use the tax shown on the original return. However, if you and your spouse file a joint return after the due date to replace separate returns you originally filed by the due date, use the tax shown on the joint return to figure your required estimated tax payments. This rule applies only if both original separate returns were filed on time. If you file a joint return with your spouse for 2004, but you filed separate returns for 2003, your 2003 tax is the total of the tax shown on your separate returns. You filed a separate return if you filed as single, head of household, or married filing separately. If you file a separate return for 2004, but you filed a joint return with your spouse for 2003, your 2003 tax is your share of the tax on the joint return. You filed a separate return if you filed as single, head of household, or married filing separately. To figure your share of the taxes on a joint return, first figure the tax both you and your spouse would have paid had you filed separate returns for 2003 using the same filing status as for 2004. Then multiply the tax on the joint return by the following fraction: The tax you would have paid had you filed a separate return The total tax you and your spouse would have paid had you filed separate returns Example 42 Lisa and Paul filed a joint return for 2003 showing taxable income of $49,000 and a tax of $6,654. Of the $49,000 taxable income, $41,000 was Lisa's and the rest was Paul's. The IRS will figure the penalty for you and send you a bill. If you want us to figure the penalty for you, leave the penalty line on your return blank. If you want to figure your penalty, complete Part I, Part II, and either Part III or Part IV of Form 2210. See Reasons for filing to determine whether you should file Form 2210. On Form 1040, enter the amount of your penalty on line 75. If you owe tax on line 74, add the penalty to your tax due and show your total payment on line 74. If you are due a refund, subtract the penalty from the overpayment you show on line 71. On Form 1040A, enter the amount of your penalty on line 48. If you owe tax on line 47, add the penalty to your tax due and show your total payment on line 47. If you are due a refund, subtract the penalty from the overpayment you show on line 44. You may be able to lower or eliminate your penalty if you file Form 2210. You must file Form 2210 with your return if any of the following applies. See the explanation of this method under Figuring Your Underpayment, later. See Actual withholding method under Figuring Your Underpayment, later. Exceptions Generally, you do not have to pay an underpayment penalty if either of the following conditions apply: * Your total tax is less than $1,000, or * You had no tax liability last year. Less Than $1,000 Due You do not owe a penalty if the total tax shown on your return minus the amount you paid through withholding (including excess social security and railroad retirement tax withholding) is less than $1,000. For 2004, your total tax on Form 1040 is the amount on line 62 reduced by the total of the following amounts. Your total tax on Form 1040A is the amount on line 38 minus the amount on lines 41a and 42. Your total tax on Form 1040EZ is the amount on line 10 minus the amount on line 8a. For 2004, the amount you paid through withholding on Form 1040 is the amount on line 63 plus any excess social security or railroad retirement tax withholding on line 66. On Form 1040A, the amount you paid through withholding is the amount on line 39. On Form 1040EZ, it is the amount on line 7 No Tax Liability Last Year You do not owe a penalty if you had no tax liability last year and you were a US citizen or resident for the whole year. For this rule to apply, your tax year must have included all 12 months of the year. Y...
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www.irs.gov/govt/fslg/article/0,,id=112714,00.html
Where To File FAQs regarding Form W-4 These frequently asked questions and answers are provided for general information only and should not be cited as any type of legal authority. They are designed to provide the user with information required to respond to general inquiries. Due to the uniqueness and complexities of Federal tax law, it is imperative to ensure a full understanding of the specific question presented, and to perform the requisite research to ensure a correct response is provided. Can employees change their Forms W-4 in mid-year to increase their withholding exemptions, even though their marital status and number of dependents have not changed? For example, an employee revises his Form W-4 to increase his exemptions from three to nine or repeatedly changes his Form W-4. Employees sometimes claim exemption from withholding on their Forms W-4. Can employees change their Forms W-4 in mid-year to increase their withholding exemptions, even though their marital status and number of dependents have not changed? For example, an employee revises his Form W-4 to increase his exemptions from three to nine or repeatedly changes his Form W-4. Every employee must furnish to the employer a signed withholding exemption certificate (Form W-4) on or before the date of employment. The Form W-4 must indicate the employee's marital status and the number of withholding exemptions claimed. This number should not exceed the number to which the employee is entitled. A married employee can claim an exemption for a spouse only if the spouse does not have in effect a Form W-4 claiming his or her own exemption. If the employee fails to provide a Form W-4, the employer must withhold as if the individual were single with no withholding exemptions. Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, provides detailed instructions for completing Form W-4. Employees may amend their forms W-4 if their situations change. Some of the reasons to add an exemption would be if an employee gets married (provided the spouse does not work and claim his or her own exemption) or if a child is born or adopted. The purpose of completing the Form W-4 is to have the right amount of tax withheld. Sometimes this cannot be done simply by claiming an exemption for each member of a family. The employee may be entitled to additional withholding allowances, as provided in the regulations. For instance, the employee might have deductions and credits which will significantly reduce taxable income. To benefit from extra allowances, the employee must have in effect with the employer a Form W-4 claiming additional allowances. The employee may also be entitled to fewer exemptions or need to have additional tax withheld if, for instance, the employee has additional sources of income, such as self-employment or investment income. Form W-4 is also used to authorize additional withholding. Any unauthorized change or addition to a Form W-4 makes it invalid. This includes taking out the language by which the employee certifies that the form is correct. A Form W-4 is also invalid if, by the date an employee gives it to the employer, he or she indicates in any way that it is false. An employee who files a false Form W-4 may be subject to a $500 penalty. An employer should not knowingly use an invalid Form W-4 to calculate withholding. The employer should tell the employee it is invalid and ask for another one. If the employee does not provide a valid one, the employer should withhold taxes as if the employee were single and claiming no withholding allowances. However, if a prior Form W-4 is in effect with respect to the employee, the employer should continue to withhold in accordance with the prior form. Return to List of FAQs Employees sometimes claim exemption from withholding on their Forms W-4. An employer is not required to deduct and withhold income tax upon payment of wages to an employee if the employee has filed a valid certificate of exemption from withholding. An employee may claim exemption from income tax withholding if he or she had no income tax liability last year and expects to have no tax liability this year. An employee must submit a Form W-4 to the employer each year by February 15th to claim exemption from withholding. If the employee does not provide a new Form W-4, the employer must withhold tax as if the employee were single with zero withholding allowances. Beginning with the first quarter of 2005, employers are no longer required to submit certain copies of Form W-4 to the IRS. The IRS has developed a new process to more effectively identify workers with withholding compliance problems. In cases where problems are identified, the employer will receive a written notice from the IRS with specific instructions for withholding on the affected employee.