How do we stop owing taxes?

Forum|Forum|10 months ago
May 28, 2025
2 replies
0 views

My wife and I have owed between 3-6k each of the last 3 years. We both claim 0 but don’t own a home or have any other deductions minus the standard. We made around 200k this last year combined. What can we do so we don’t continue to owe taxes each year?

Ask the Experts - W4 - May 2025

Bsch4477

As you know, you can’t escape death and taxes. Suggestions to lower your tax burden include contributing to a retirement plan and an HSA if eligible. If you have investments harvesting losses.

gforeman1

One method you can use is to increase your federal withholdings by completing new W-4 forms. When completing the W-4, complete Step 2 of the Form W-4 instructions to account for a working spouse. Underwithholding can occur if both spouses enter Married Filing Joint filing status in Step 1 and fail to complete Step 2. You can also enter an amounts to be withheld per pay period in Step 4(c) for additional withholdings.

Using the estimate you have given of owing 3-6K each year, you can determine the additional amount needed by diving it by the number of pay periods you are paid. For example, if you are paid Bi-Weekly (26 pay periods) and you want to have an additional $3K withheld per year, you can enter $116 ($3,000 / 26 - Rounded up) on line 4(c) of the W-4 form. You can each make these changes to your W-4 so you are able to increase the federal withholdings based on your income.