IRS Reminder: Start Planning for Next Year With the IRS Withholding Calculator

With the formal 2025 tax filing season behind us, taxpayers should be reminded that it can be beneficial to start thinking about next year's taxes early. Taxpayers who owed money or received larger-than-expected refunds can use the IRS withholding calculator to determine whether they're having the correct amount of tax withdrawn from their paychecks during the 2026 tax year. After using the withholding estimator, taxpayers can decide whether to fill out a new Form W-4 for their employer to use to withhold federal income taxes from their pay. Taxpayers should always review their withholding after major life events like marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or purchase of a new home. Taxpayers should remember to consider any income from side jobs, sales of goods or services or any other income reported on Form 1099-K when calculating their withholding. Taxpayers with more complicated tax pictures can look to guidance in IRS Publication 505: Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax to determine the amounts they should be paying to the IRS throughout the year. For more information on the estimated tax payment obligations, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More: Link to Q8572.