Simpler W-4 Form Cleared for Use in April

The new, simpler W-4A tax withholding form has been approved for taxpayer use and should be available in mid-April, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday.

The two-page form will serve as an alternative to the W-4, which is twice as long and more complicated but also more exact in figuring out how much tax money needs to be withheld from a worker’s paycheck.

“In mid-April, the IRS will begin to mail employers a W-4A forms package containing seven copies of the form, instructions and an order blank for more copies,” the IRS said. “The form will be available at local IRS offices and many banks, post offices and libraries at that time.”

Adjusting for Tax Revision

The IRS estimates that from 92 million to 94 million Americans will have to fill out a W-4 or W-4A this year to account for changes in their withholding that occurred because of tax revision.

About half of those people already have submitted a new W-4, and the rest have until Oct. 1 to do so, the IRS said.

The W-4A is essentially the same form as the one IRS Commissioner Lawrence B. Gibbs unveiled on March 2. It was changed slightly by the Office of Management and Budget, which must pass judgment on all federal forms.

Contains More Information

“One of the most important things we did is that the W-4A informs 12 million people up front that they are exempt and don’t need to fill out the work sheet at all,” said Wendy Gramm, administrator for information and regulatory affairs at the budget office.

“An additional 36 million people will find they only need to do the front page,” she said. “Also, there are a number of other modifications that we believe help to clarify (what the taxpayer needs to fill out).”