W-2 Withholding Checker

How to use this tool

Grab your W-2 and enter four numbers from it: Box 1 (taxable wages), Box 2 (federal tax withheld), your filing status, and any other income or adjustments. The tool estimates your federal tax liability and compares it to what was actually withheld.

The result tells you whether you'll likely owe money at tax time, get a refund, or land approximately even.

Why your withholding might be off

Even with a properly filled-out W-4, withholding can drift away from your actual tax liability for several reasons:

• Multiple jobs — each employer withholds based only on their wages, not your combined income
• Spouse working — if you didn't account for a working spouse on your W-4, you'll likely be underwithheld
• Side income — freelance, investment, or rental income isn't covered by W-2 withholding
• Major life changes — marriage, divorce, or a new baby change your tax picture
• Bonuses — flat 22% withholding on bonuses may not match your actual marginal rate

If your withholding is off — fix it for next year

Submit a new W-4 to your employer to adjust your withholding for the rest of this year and next. Our sister site W-4 Easy Guide has a free step-by-step W-4 calculator that tells you exactly what to enter on every line.

Important caveats

This tool gives you an estimate. Your actual tax liability depends on credits, deductions, additional income sources, and state taxes that aren't included here. For precise figures, use complete tax software or consult a CPA. The W-2 Easy Guide is not a tax advisor.