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Raise W-4 Withholding Instead of Quarterly Payments?

Checked October 17, 2026 · Educational summary

General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. We are not the IRS. Check IRS.gov or a qualified tax professional. Sources read on October 17, 2026. Dates for 2027 and later are expected. Examples use made-up numbers. This page contains no affiliate links.

Publication 505 says you can increase withholding by entering an additional amount to be withheld from each paycheck in Step 4(c) of Form W-4. If you have more than one job (or a working spouse on a joint return), you can apply the extra to one job or split it. It also says you can't give your employer a payment to cover estimated tax or past pay periods.

What the IRS says

• Check your withholding when income not subject to withholding changes (the pub lists interest, dividends, capital gains, self-employment income).
• Use the Tax Withholding Estimator (IRS.gov/W4App) or worksheets 1-3 and 1-5 to decide the extra amount.
• A new Form W-4 for the current year must be put into effect by the start of the first payroll period ending on or after the 30th day after you give it to your employer. That slows the effect compared with a payment you make yourself.
• If you have self-employment income or owe self-employment tax, use the worksheets in the pub to determine whether you should pay estimated tax.

The IRS example

A couple projects an extra $4,459 of tax; the spouse has 49 pay periods left, so they enter $91 ($4,459 ÷ 49) in Step 4(c).

Compare

Withholding vs quarterly payments: the pub describes each as a way to pay as you go. This page doesn't say which is better, nor how the IRS timing treats withholding for penalty purposes (not read). Check Form 2210 instructions.

Related

Do I need to pay quarterly? · Self-employment tax

FAQ

Does my employer have to agree?

The pub says employers must follow Form W-4 rules; ask your employer how it processes changes.

Does this cover self-employment tax?

Withholding is income tax; the IRS says estimated tax covers other taxes such as self-employment tax. Check how your withholding is counted.

What we could not verify