You finally got the job. Congratulations! Now the manager hands you a stack of paperwork. You’re filling out your name, address, emergency contact information, and then you come across something called a W-4. You look at it and think, “What in the world is this? I’m just trying to go to work and get paid!”
A W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your paycheck. It helps your employer calculate how much federal income tax to take out before you get paid. Fill it out incorrectly, and you could have too much withheld each payday or not enough, leaving you with a tax bill later.
Meet Jake
Jake is 19 years old, lives in Louisiana, and just got hired at his first job. He’ll be working 20 hours a week at $15 an hour. That’s $300 a week before taxes. Jake is single, has no children, has only one job, and isn’t claiming special tax deductions or credits. Here’s what he needs to do with the W-4.
Follow along with the official 2026 IRS W-4 (PDF). Important 2026 correction: The illustration below is not an exact copy of the 2026 IRS form. It shows an outdated $2,000 amount for qualifying children in Step 3; the official 2026 amount is $2,200. It also omits the new exemption-from-withholding checkbox. Use the linked official IRS form for the correct fields and instructions; do not complete or submit the illustration.
Step 1: Enter Your Personal Information
Jake enters his legal name, home address, and Social Security number. At Step 1(c), he chooses Single or Married filing separately. Being in a relationship doesn’t make you married, and paying your own bills doesn’t automatically qualify you as Head of Household. Choose the filing status that actually applies to you.
Step 2: Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works
This section matters if you work more than one job at the same time or you’re married filing jointly and your spouse works. Jake has only one job and isn’t married, so he skips Step 2. If he later takes a second job, he should review his withholding. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help.
Step 3: Claim Dependents and Other Credits
This step accounts for qualifying dependents and certain tax credits. Jake has no children or dependents and isn’t claiming other credits, so he leaves Step 3 blank. You don’t put yourself down as your own dependent. If you’re unsure who qualifies, consult the current IRS instructions.
Step 4: Other Adjustments
4(a), Other income: Certain income outside jobs you want considered in withholding. 4(b), Deductions: Certain deductions you want considered using the W-4 instructions. 4(c), Extra withholding: An additional dollar amount of federal income tax you ask your employer to withhold from each paycheck. Jake doesn’t need these adjustments in our example, so he leaves Step 4 blank.
Step 5: Sign and Date
Jake checks his answers, signs and dates the form, and gives it to his employer or submits it through the company’s secure payroll system. Don’t send your Social Security number in an unsecured message. For Jake’s situation, Steps 1 and 5 are all he needs to complete.
What About Louisiana Taxes?
The W-4 is a federal form. Louisiana employers may also ask employees to complete a separate Louisiana L-4 for state income tax withholding. Even when federal income tax withholding is zero, Social Security and Medicare taxes generally still apply to covered wages. Read our Cheat Code: How to Read Your Paycheck.
Can You Change Your W-4 Later?
Absolutely. Marriage, a second job, a child, or another change in your tax situation may mean it’s time to submit a new W-4. And don’t claim exempt from withholding just because you don’t want taxes taken out. IRS eligibility rules apply.
Useful Links
- Official 2026 IRS W-4 form and instructions
- IRS Tax Withholding Estimator
- Louisiana Department of Revenue tax forms (including L-4)
- Cheat Code: How to Read Your Paycheck
Today’s Cheat Code
Open the official W-4. Find Step 1(c) and identify the filing status that actually applies to you. Then look at Steps 2, 3, and 4 and decide whether any apply. Don’t submit the practice form. Learn how to complete it before your employer hands you one.
A man who understands his paperwork is a man who’s learning to take responsibility for his money. That’s what these Cheat Codes are about: not just telling you what to do, but teaching you how to do it.