Checking your withholding just got easier. The IRS launched a new IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. As part of a continuing effort to improve quality services for taxpayers, the IRS upgraded this tool, which replaces the Withholding Calculator, and gave it a facelift.

More than just a name change
The Tax Withholding Estimator offers taxpayers a more user-friendly, step-by-step tool for tailoring the amount of income tax they have withheld from wages and pension payments. More people with certain tax situations can use this tool than before, such as retirees and self-employed individuals. The newly designed, mobile-friendly tool has plain language throughout to improve comprehension, and several new functions. You can learn more about key improvements in the attached materials.

Time is right

The IRS urges taxpayers to check their withholding each year and adjust it, if needed, to avoid tax filing surprises. The new Tax Withholding Estimator will help anyone doing tax planning for the last few months of 2019. It’s especially important to use the estimator now:

• If a taxpayer faced an unexpected tax bill or a penalty when they filed this year.
• If a taxpayer made withholding adjustments in 2018.
• If a taxpayer has or will experience a change in marital status, dependents, income or jobs this year.
• Because taxpayers can make estimated tax payments to the IRS instead of adjusting their withholding, and the next payment deadline is Sept. 16.

How you can help:  

• If you previously linked to the IRS Withholding Calculator, you can update the link text on your website to reflect the new name, “IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.” You don’t need to change the former URL, however. The IRS will automatically redirect your users to the new tool from the former URL.
• Please share the attached resources with your members, clients or employees through your website, emails, social media accounts, newsletters or other channels.

Resources

These products are attached to this message. As they’re issued, you can also find them in the Paycheck Checkup section of this Resources page or on our Tax Info to Share page.

• IRS News Release IR-2019-139, Aug. 6: IRS launches new Tax Withholding Estimator; Redesigned online tool makes it easier to do a Paycheck Checkup (in English and Spanish)
• Ready-to-use articles:
  • New Tax Withholding Estimator makes it easier to tailor your withholding
  • Tips for using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator
  • What to do with your Tax Withholding Estimator results
  • If you’re self-employed, checking your tax situation just got easier
  • Retirees: New IRS tool makes it easier to check your withholding
• Tax tip for Aug. 7 release: Improved tool on gov helps taxpayers check their withholding
• Infographic: How to check your taxes now to avoid surprises later (in both PDF and .png files)
  
• Tax Withholding Estimator images: See screen shots of the new design within mobile devices and on a desktop.

 

Other resources and general information from IRS.gov:

• Share #IRS info on your social media. You can find #PaycheckCheckup information and more on the IRS’s social media accounts:
  • Instagram: IRSNews
  • IRS Twitter accounts:
  • @IRSnews – IRS news and tips for the public
  • @IRSsmallbiz – Information for small businesses
  • @IRStaxpros – IRS information for tax professionals
  • @IRSenEspanol – IRS news and tips in Spanish
• Facebook: IRS

• Updated fact sheets: Learn the basics of withholding and estimated tax payments
  • FS-2019-4 – Tax withholding: How to get it right
  • FS-2019-6 – Basics of estimated taxes for individuals
• Paycheck Checkup page on gov
• Tax Reform Resources page

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Thank you for your continued partnership!

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you,

John Blakeman
Stakeholder Liaison Area 6
C&L-SL
Ph: (503) 265 – 3669
Email: John.W.Blakeman@irs.gov