Can I Adjust My Withholding to Stop Owing at Tax Time?

Yes — if you consistently owe money at tax time, you can increase your federal withholding by submitting a new Form W-4 to your employer. On the new W-4, you can request that an additional flat dollar amount be withheld from each paycheck. You can use the IRS's Tax Withholding Estimator (irs.gov/W4App) to calculate the right amount. Alternatively, if you have multiple jobs or significant non-wage income (like freelance work), make sure all income sources are accounted for in your withholding calculation. Reviewing and updating your W-4 after a major life change — marriage, divorce, new child, second job — is always a good idea.