paycheck tax withholding ?

Question

I received my first paycheck and 200 in taxes were taken out but I never received a w-4 or i9 Which is what I am used to were I can claim 0 5. So how can these taxes be taken out if I never received those forms of any kind

Answer 1

The IRS instructions cover this situation. In the absence of a valid completed W-4, an employer must withhold at the highest rate - single with 0 allowances. This is covered in the first paragraph of the following document:

Topic 753 - Form W-4 – Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate

If an employee fails to give you a properly completed Form W-4, you must withhold federal income taxes from his or her wages as if he or she were single and claiming no withholding allowances.

The I-9 should have no effect on your tax withholding, since it only certifies that you have the right to work in the United States, not that you have any specific tax condition.

A new W-4 can be filed at any time. The above document specifies the maximum amount of time before the new document must be accepted.

If you are certain you have not been given a W-4 or I-9 to complete, you may wish to inquire further of your employer, and save those pay stubs. Without proper documentation, your employer may act shadily and may not be making proper payments to the IRS on your behalf or his own.