By Team SalaryCalculate · 7/23/2025
Changing your W-4 in Texas can make a big difference in how much money ends up in your pocket each payday. If you're seeing smaller paychecks than expected or owing a big tax bill in April, it might be time to update it. The W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your wages. And while Texas has no state income tax, that doesn’t mean your W-4 doesn’t matter. It still affects your take-home pay and your IRS refund (or bill).
For 2025 and 2026, the IRS has kept the redesigned W-4 form from previous years. That means no more allowances — instead, you enter real dollar amounts or check boxes that match your situation. It’s simpler in some ways, but also easy to mess up if you guess. So let's break down when you should update it, what changes to make, and how to avoid common W-4 mistakes.
Why Would You Change Your W-4 in Texas?
Even though you don’t pay state income tax in Texas, your federal taxes still apply. Your W-4 helps your employer figure out how much to send to the IRS on your behalf.
You might want to change it if:
- You got married or divorced
- You had a child
- You took a second job or started freelancing
- Your spouse started or stopped working
- You owed money or got a huge refund last year
- You want to adjust how much tax comes out of your paycheck
Basically, anytime your income or household changes, your W-4 should too.
Quick Example: What Happens If You Don’t Adjust
Let’s say you got married in January 2025 and both spouses work. You left your W-4 set to "Single". That means your employer is withholding more tax than needed. You might end up with a large refund later — but you also just gave the IRS an interest-free loan all year.
On the flip side, if you started a second job and didn’t update your W-4, both jobs may be withholding as if they’re your only income. That could mean a surprise tax bill come April.
What the 2025/2026 W-4 Form Looks Like
The IRS W-4 form hasn’t changed much since 2020, but here’s what you’ll find in 2025:
1. Step 1: Personal details and filing status
2. Step 2: Multiple jobs or spouse works
3. Step 3: Claim dependents
4. Step 4: Optional: other income, deductions, extra withholding
5. Step 5: Signature
Filing Status: Why It Matters
- Single or Married filing separately: Highest withholding
- Married filing jointly: Lower withholding
- Head of household: Often lower withholding if you qualify
Be honest here. If you check the wrong status, your paycheck could be way off.
Common Mistakes People Make on Their W-4
- Not filling out Step 2 for multiple jobs
- Skipping Step 3 when you have kids or dependents
- Not accounting for freelance income
- Guessing deductions instead of using the IRS estimator
If you freelance or have other untaxed income, adding an amount to Step 4(a) can help prevent surprise tax bills.
How to Fill It Out Based on Your Situation
1. Single, one job, no kids
- Step 1: Check "Single"
- Step 2: Leave blank
- Step 3: Leave blank
- Step 4: Leave blank unless you want extra tax withheld
2. Married, both work
- Step 1: Check "Married filing jointly"
- Step 2: Use the Multiple Jobs Worksheet or check the box
- Step 3: Claim dependents if you have kids
3. Freelance income on the side
- Estimate how much extra income you'll make this year
- Use the IRS withholding estimator or tax calculator
- Add a dollar amount to Step 4(a)
Can You Adjust Your W-4 Anytime?
Yes. There’s no limit. You can submit a new W-4 whenever you want. Just give it to your HR department or update it in your payroll system (if your company uses an online platform).
The change usually takes 1–2 pay periods to show up.
Should You Claim More or Less Withholding?
Here’s a quick table to help guide you:
| Situation | Withholding Strategy | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Owed taxes last year | Increase withholding | Smaller tax bill/refund |
| Got a big refund last year | Decrease withholding | More take-home pay now |
| Freelance or second job income | Add withholding | Avoid tax surprises |
| Claiming new dependents | Reduce withholding | More take-home pay |
| Uncertain or changing income | Use IRS estimator | Balanced approach |
Want to know how your paycheck is taxed in Texas? It's mostly federal taxes like Social Security, Medicare, and income tax. That’s why your W-4 is such a big deal.
Want help deciding? Here’s a full guide on how to increase my takehome pay in Texas. It includes tax strategies, paycheck tips, and more.
You can also use the IRS Withholding Estimator to check if your W-4 looks right based on your latest paycheck.
