Make Sure Your Withholding is Adequate

Did you recently file your federal tax return and were surprised to find you owed money? Make sure your withholding is adequate so that this doesn’t happen next year. You might even want to do that if you got a big refund. Receiving a tax refund essentially means you’re giving the government an interest-free loan. Withholding changes In 2018, the IRS updated the withholding tables that indicate how much employers should hold back from their employees’ paychecks. In general, the amount withheld was reduced. This was done to reflect changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) — including an increase in the standard deduction, suspension of personal exemptions and changes in tax rates. The tables may have provided the correct amount of tax withholding for some...

Consider Checking Your Payroll Withholding

Due to the massive changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the 2019 filing season resulted in surprises. Some filers who have gotten a refund in past years wound up owing money. The IRS reports that the number of refunds paid this year is down from last year — and the average refund is lower. As of May 10, 2019, the IRS paid out 101,590,000 refunds averaging $2,868. This compares with 102,582,000 refunds paid out in 2018 with an average amount of $2,940. Of course, receiving a tax refund shouldn’t necessarily be your goal. It essentially means you’re giving the government an interest-free loan. Law changes and withholding Last year, the IRS updated the withholding tables that indicate how much employers should hold back from their...