W-4s: Your Guide to Accurate Withholding
Simplifying W-4s: Get Withholding Right Every Time
A W-4 is the most common tax form every employee completes. But common does not mean simple, and for the time being, employees are stuck with a form that’s complicated to complete and cumbersome for employers to put into effect. The task is even tougher for employees with side gigs, because the IRS can’t seem to settle on the steps in the form they should complete.
The W-4 is a potential minefield for costly mistakes
For employers, translating the W-4 into a payroll system can be a daunting task, especially with the IRS’s ever-changing guidelines. Recent updates, including new rules for electronic W-4s buried in Pub. 15-T, have only added to the confusion.
Employees who complete Step 3 to claim dependents consistently end up being underwithheld. Some employees are having $0 withheld, so they’re stuck with a giant tax bill. And they’re blaming Payroll.
You didn’t make the mess, but you have to clean it up
Despite all these challenges, the IRS has no real choice but to stick with its revised form and the much more complicated withholding rules that go along with it. This includes no pay period withholding, no withholding allowances for employees to claim and no more inflation adjustments to the withholding adjustment amounts.
Remember, even if you outsource payroll to a third party, the IRS will always hold YOU responsible for any mistakes—so it’s your job to guarantee compliance.
Get the tools you need to succeed
On January 21, join payroll and tax compliance expert Alice Gilman as she walks you through everything you need to know about W-4s, how to avoid mistakes and how to stay in compliance with the IRS’s latest rules.
Webinar Agenda
- W-4 updates and compliance. Stay current on the latest W-4 process, including electronic forms, and quickly bring your company into compliance.
- Guidance for side gigs and worksheets. Learn how employees with multiple jobs should complete the W-4 form, and understand the critical role of W-4 worksheets in accurate withholding.
- Effective employee communication. Develop a plan to guide employees—especially new hires—through the W-4 form to prevent costly mistakes.
- Managing outdated W-4s. Discover strategies for handling employees who don’t update their W-4s, including IRS solutions for different forms and methods.
- Rejecting invalid W-4s. Identify when to reject a W-4 and how to manage IRS letters that void an employee’s form.
- Ensuring withholding accuracy. Follow best practices for verifying your withholding processes, with step-by-step IRS guidance.
- Supplemental pay withholding. Master the rules for withholding on various types of supplemental pay.
In this 75-minute online training, you’ll learn how to:
- Achieve full compliance. Discover if your W-4 and withholding processes are in compliance for 2025.
- Make the W-4 changes work for you, not against you. Understand how the IRS’ “computational bridge” for employees who have old W-4s on file can ease your payroll calculations.
- Explain it correctly to employees. Learn how to effectively communicate with your employees about how this complex new form can reduce common errors they make.
Get answers to YOUR questions from presenter…
Alice Gilman, Esq., is an expert in payroll and tax compliance who has covered payroll issues for more than 35 years. She's written and edited several leading payroll publications, including Payroll Legal Alert, the Research Institute of America's Payroll Guide, the American Payroll Association's Basic Guide to Payroll and the Payroll Manager's Letter.
Registration bonuses included:
Everyone who signs up will receive a copy of Payroll Checklist, a step-by-step compliance guide detailing every deadline and action item required for every pay period, month, and calendar quarter of the year. Use the checklist as a guide to total payroll compliance for the rest of the year.
You'll also receive one month of exclusive access to Payroll Legal Alert – our comprehensive online resource with timely advice, daily blogs, helpful articles, forms, tables and charts that will help you improve every aspect of your payroll operation. So that you continue to benefit from Payroll Legal Alert, we will continue your subscription after that for the then current rate, unless you tell us "no, thanks" – your choice.
Save 90% On a Complete Year of Training Webinars
Train Big. Save Big. Win Big.
Access around 100 live, expert-led training sessions… for just $1,599
We promise you'll be satisfied.
If W-4s: Your Guide to Accurate Withholding fails to meet your needs in any way, we will refund 100% of your tuition – every penny you paid – but your course materials and registration bonuses will be yours to keep. No hassles, no questions asked.
Professional Recertification Credit Hours Included
Business Management Daily is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDC) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
This Program has been pre-approved for 1.25 HR (General) credit hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).