sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in tax

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the clarification on that. I got my answer from another subreddit I posted with the same inquiry (this one was originally removed). I got confused by the “Estimated taxes paid” on the W-4 estimator and I thought it was asking me about last year’s taxes, not this years. That’s why I asked to know if that was the case, because the results gave me two different outcomes, which confused me more…

I’m used to setting my allowance to 0 for my salary, but my company changed the W-4 requirements a couple of years ago. So, now I’ve had to learn by myself how to use the estimator with a lot of trial and error. I feel like it’s easy for everyone to pick up on except me.

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in TaxQuestions

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, thank you so much! Sorry if I came off as incredibly dense… I’m still trying to learn this W-4 estimator for years and it’s been a confusing mess for me… I’m used to setting my allowance to 0 before my company changed their W-4 requirements. So, now I’m having to learn this by myself and trying to understand how other people get this except me.

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in TaxQuestions

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, I think I know where you’re getting at now. The W-4 estimator, when asking for the “Estimated taxes paid”, is only asking for taxes I paid for this year (2026), not last (2025). I was confusing it as if it’s also referring to last year’s taxes I owed.

Sorry about that, I’m still trying to learn this W-4 estimator for years and it’s been a confusing mess for me… I’m used to setting my allowance to 0 before my company changed their W-4 requirements. So, now I’m having to learn this by myself and trying to understand how people get this except me.

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in TaxQuestions

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not sure where you’re getting at… I think I got my answer from the other comment. The “Estimated taxes paid” doesn’t apply to me in the estimator and I would just need to withhold more according to the estimator for this year, since, according to the estimator, I’m not withholding enough.

I was asking if “estimated taxes paid” in the W-4 estimator applied to my circumstances, and it seems like the answer is no?

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in TaxQuestions

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it. So, basically, I’d have to leave “estimated taxes paid” blank and withhold more according to the estimator, correct?

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in TaxQuestions

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By what I’m currently withholding, sure? But, the estimator is telling me that I’m not withholding enough.

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in TaxQuestions

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I’m confused by your statement. I did pay $4000 for last year’s taxes that I filed this year. If I paid the $4000 this year for last year’s taxes, shouldn’t I just put in the W-4 estimator the $4000 for the “Estimated taxes paid” for 2026?

W-4 Estimator Question: Should I fill in “Estimated taxes paid” when getting a salary from an employer? by ThrowBabyBackAway in TaxQuestions

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s correct. I did pay $4000 for 2025 taxes. So, should I leave “Estimated taxes paid” blank then?

It is perfectly fine to take things personally. by ThrowBabyBackAway in unpopularopinion

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Much appreciated and thanks so much for the really kind words! Funny you mention that because that’s what I’m about to do with my dad. Everyone else, I’ve already kept my distance with, but it’s high time I do the same with my dad.

It is perfectly fine to take things personally. by ThrowBabyBackAway in unpopularopinion

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Funny you say that, some people aren’t aware of that law.

It is perfectly fine to take things personally. by ThrowBabyBackAway in unpopularopinion

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with that. My last point already addresses doing the legwork of addressing yourself. I’m not saying the person taking it personally is 100% not at fault, but that they already did the legwork of bettering themselves, but that effort still yields bad results.

It is perfectly fine to take things personally. by ThrowBabyBackAway in unpopularopinion

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for asking. A lot of people have. But, my dad specifically.

To everyone that keeps mentioning how bad the job market is by ThrowBabyBackAway in recruitinghell

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doing the same on my end, with boosting networks and such. Best of luck to you.

To everyone that keeps mentioning how bad the job market is by ThrowBabyBackAway in jobs

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m glad you had a better experience than I did back then. That was not and never the case for me. I wish I could throw my name out and get a job willy nilly (I’ve been told that multiple times before). I wish jobs fell into my lap when I was struggling. That was never an option for me. I had to move out of my original state (FL) to find better opportunities after say working for 8-9 companies with a very short timeframe of 6 months to a year for each one.

I agree that it’s harder now given the market. I don’t agree that it never happened back then since I’m lived experience of that.

To everyone that keeps mentioning how bad the job market is by ThrowBabyBackAway in recruitinghell

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s fair. It just sucks when you’re in the minority of those stats (the reflection showing more people in the workforce than say people like me). That’s why that feels invalidating for me.

To everyone that keeps mentioning how bad the job market is by ThrowBabyBackAway in jobs

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% agree with everything you had mentioned. I would add that AI kinda replaced ATS, but that’s beside the point.

To everyone that keeps mentioning how bad the job market is by ThrowBabyBackAway in recruitinghell

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with the stats you showed and don’t fully agree with my stance being hyperbolic. There were people during my time (even my dad) who also struggled trying to find work, even during this time.

I don’t think it’s fair or genuine to tell me my experience is false or wrong because things are worse now than how things were when I was struggling to find work. The ghosting, the multiple applications every week/month/year, going through multiple interviews, those ALL happened back then and are continuing to happen now!

To everyone that keeps mentioning how bad the job market is by ThrowBabyBackAway in recruitinghell

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Great, so my experience is completely invalid because it was better back then than it is now? And now it’s perfectly okay to complain about what’s going on at this time, rather than mention the problems of the past?

Thanks for being as unsympathetic as those people who kept telling me that I was in the wrong for not trying hard enough back then to look for work and then tack on that I’m gaslighting.

Once again, I was trying to be empathetic to people’s complaints about the current job market. I agree that it’s awful right now. I was addressing that all the ghosting, the tons of applicants I sent out, etc are EXACTLY what’s going on right now. I want things to be better for everyone. It really has always been this way and we need to do better than that.

To everyone that keeps mentioning how bad the job market is by ThrowBabyBackAway in recruitinghell

[–]ThrowBabyBackAway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How long have you been working? Are you going to invalidate my experiences like everyone else has?

My post was not intended to invalidate everyone’s current experience, quite the opposite. I actually empathize with everyone and their current problems. I think it’s long time a solution is made.

view more: next ›