Which form is filled out by an employee to indicate the amount that should be withheld from his/her paycheck for taxes?

• A. W-2
• B. I-9
• C. 1040
• D. W-4

Answer: (D)

The form used to tell your employer how much federal tax to withhold from each paycheck is the W-4. It asks for your filing status, the number of dependents or allowances, and any extra withholding you want, and your employer uses that information to calculate the amount to deduct based on IRS tables. You can update this form whenever your tax situation changes—marriage, a new child, a second job, or other adjustments—to keep withholding aligned with what you owe. The W-2 is the year-end summary your employer provides showing total wages and taxes withheld for the year, not something you fill out to set withholding. The I-9 verifies identity and eligibility to work, not taxes. The 1040 is the annual tax return you file after the year to report income and determine the actual tax due or refund, not the form used to decide withholding from each paycheck.