Finance

Now that the deadline has passed, here’s what the IRS is asking of taxpayers to avoid unexpected tax bills or penalties

The Internal Revenue Service is urging taxpayers to check their tax withholding to avoid unexpected bills.

JAVIER TORRES/ATON CHILE

Born in Leeds, Joe finished his Spanish degree in 2018 before becoming an English teacher to football (soccer) players and managers, as well as collaborating with various football media outlets in English and Spanish. He joined AS in 2022 and covers both the men’s and women’s game across Europe and beyond.

Update: Apr 27th, 2025 18:04 EDT

April’s tax deadline has now passed, and the Internal Revenue Service has urged people to review their tax withholding in order to avoid a nasty surprise in the post in the form of a penalty.

They say that adjusting your withholding - which is the amount of federal income tax withheld from your paycheck - now can help ensure that the correct amount of tax is paid throughout the year, reducing the likelihood of owing money when filing returns.

The number is based on the amount you earn and the information you give your employer on Form W–4.

How can I check my tax withholding?

The IRS handily offer a Tax Withholding Estimator, a free tool accessed online that tells you if everything’s OK or if adjustments are needed.

The estimator works off various income sources and personal circumstances, such as marriage, divorce, having a child, or starting a new job regularly impact one’s tax situation.

It is recommended that you gather all necessary documents, such as income statements (including your spouse’s, if filing jointly), information from any other earnings, and your most recent tax return before using the tool.

IRS recommends taxpayers gather certain documents including:

All income statements, including those of your spouse if filing jointly
Data from other sources of earnings
Their most recent income tax return

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Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek that the system was “pivotal”, and “especially for those who have income they need withholding to apply to throughout the tax year. No one wants to get to the end of the year with a massive tax bill.”

Proper tax withholding now is key to avoiding surprises when you file your tax return next year. Making any needed adjustments earlier in the year means you won’t have to make a big change later in the year to catch up.
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help:… pic.twitter.com/IiBr8Cw97g
— Andrew Berg, CPA (@bergcpa) April 23, 2025

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