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You Make the Call - March 19, 2026

Published:
By: NATP Staff
Maria reviewing Form W-4 to increase paycheck withholding and avoid owing federal tax at filing time

Question: Maria, 40, usually receives a refund when she files her federal tax return. She would like to adjust her withholding, so she can take home more money throughout the year. What should she do? 

Answer: Maria should submit an updated 2026 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, to her employer. If she is eligible for any of the new deductions, such as the qualified tip deduction or qualified overtime deduction, she should use the new Step 4(b), Deductions Worksheet (page 4) to estimate any new deductions she expects to claim. The worksheet also reflects the new senior deduction for taxpayers age 65 or older, updated standard deduction amounts, and the temporary increase to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap for those who itemize.  

After completing the worksheet, she enters the worksheet result in Step 4(b) Deductions, on page 1 of the Form W-4, so her withholding reflects those deductions, and she can increase her take-home pay during the year.

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NATP Staff

The NATP team is dedicated to supporting tax professionals with expert insights, industry updates and resources that help them serve their clients with confidence.

Information included in this article is accurate as of the publication date. This post does not reflect tax law changes or IRS guidance that may have occurred after the publishing date.