# Calculating withholdings based on W-4 (U.S. Taxes)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-withholdings-based-on-w-4-u-s-taxes/538925
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 10, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-withholdings-based-on-w-4-u-s-taxes/538925 "2010-05-10T16:38:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-withholdings-based-on-w-4-u-s-taxes/538925/1 "2010-05-10T16:38:11Z")
My employer asked me to update my W-4. I don’t mind doing so because I have been having to make quarterly payments because my tax liability ends up being too high on April 15. I want to add extra withholding to try to dispense with the quarterly payments, but I’m not sure what my actual withholdings would be.
If I know my salary and all the info on the W-4, can I work backwards to figure out how much my employer will withhold?
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### Author:  [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-withholdings-based-on-w-4-u-s-taxes/538925/2 "2010-05-10T18:25:40Z")
> **[Refunds | Internal Revenue Service](https://www.irs.gov/refunds)**
>
> You can check the status of your 2022 income tax refund 24 hours after e-filing. Please allow 3 or 4 days after e-filing your 2020 and 2021 tax year returns. If you filed a paper return, please allow 4 weeks before checking your status.
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### Author:  [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-withholdings-based-on-w-4-u-s-taxes/538925/3 "2010-05-10T22:11:31Z")
You could also just use your quarterly payments as a guide. Divide one quarterly payment by the number of pay periods in a quarter. That’s the additional amount you want withheld from your check for taxes.
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### Author:  [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-withholdings-based-on-w-4-u-s-taxes/538925/4 "2010-05-11T14:09:44Z")
This [Paycheck Calculator](http://www.paycheckcity.com/netpaycalc/netpaycalculator.asp) shows how much will be withheld for a given number of allowances. It’s much easier to use than the IRS calculator.