Due to the massive changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the 2019 filing season resulted in a few surprises. Some filers who have gotten a refund in past years wound up owing money. The IRS reports that the number of refunds paid this year is down from last year — and the average refund is lower. As of May 10, 2019, the IRS paid out 101,590,000 refunds averaging $2,868. This compares with 102,582,000 refunds paid out in 2018 with an average amount of $2,940.
While receiving a tax refund should not necessarily be your goal since it essentially means you are giving the government an interest-free loan, the sweeping changes in the tax law should prompt one to revisit their withholding amount.
Law changes and withholding
Last year, the IRS updated the withholding tables that indicate how much employers should hold back from their employees’ paychecks. In general, the amount withheld was reduced. This was done to reflect changes under the TCJA — including the increase in the standard deduction, suspension of personal exemptions and changes in tax rates.
The new tables may have provided the correct amount of tax withholding for some individuals, but they might have caused other taxpayers to not have enough money withheld to pay their ultimate tax liabilities.
Conduct a “paycheck checkup”
We strongly suggest that you review your tax situations for this year and adjust withholding, if appropriate.
The IRS has updated its withholding calculator that reflects tax law changes in areas such as available itemized deductions, the increased child credit, the new dependent credit and the repeal of dependent exemptions. You can access the IRS calculator at https://bit.ly/2aLxK0A.
Situations where changes are needed
There are a number of situations when you should check your withholding. In addition to tax law changes, it is a good idea to update your withholdings if you:
- Adjusted your withholding in 2018, especially in the middle or later part of the year,
- Owed additional tax when you filed your 2018 return,
- Received a refund that was smaller or larger than expected,
- Got married or divorced, had a child or adopted one,
- Purchased a home, or
- Had changes in income.
You can modify your withholding at any time during the year, or even multiple times within a year. To do so, you simply submit a new Form W-4 to your employer. Changes typically go into effect several weeks after a new Form W-4 is submitted. One strategy is to have an extra flat-dollar amount withheld from each paycheck.
If you make quarterly estimated tax payments, we suggest you also revisit the amount you pay. You can read more about that here. For estimated tax payments, you can make adjustments each time quarterly estimated payments are due.
We can help
Contact us to discuss your specific situation and what you can do to remedy any shortfalls to minimize taxes due, as well as any penalties and interest. We can help you sort through whether or not you need to adjust your withholding.
Krystle U. Keys, CPA, is a Tax Senior with Antares Group, Inc. She can be reached at kkeys@antarescpas.com.
