Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request
Form W-4V asks a government payer, most often the Social Security Administration, to withhold federal income tax from your benefit payments so you do not face a bill at filing time.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is W-4V?
Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request, applies to certain government payments: Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation, and a few others such as Commodity Credit Corporation loans. Benefits are frequently taxable, and this form is the simple way to spread that tax across the year instead of paying it all in April.
For Social Security you pick a flat rate of 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your payment. For unemployment compensation the only rate offered is 10%.
Who files W-4V?
- Social Security recipients whose combined income makes benefits taxable
- People receiving unemployment compensation who want tax taken out
- Anyone who would rather withhold than make quarterly estimated payments
How to fill out W-4V
- Fill in your name, address, and SSN.
- Check the box for the withholding rate you want.
- Download and sign the PDF, then send it to the payer of the benefit, for Social Security that is your local SSA office.
- File another W-4V with the stop box checked whenever you want withholding to end.
Quick fill W-4V on this page
Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open W-4V in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pick any percentage?
No. Only the printed rates are allowed: 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% for Social Security, and 10% flat for unemployment benefits.
Where do I send the completed form?
To the agency paying the benefit, never to the IRS. For Social Security, hand it in or mail it to your local SSA office.