HomeMy WebLinkAboutDE-4 2021EMPLOYEE’S WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCE CERTIFICATE
Complete this form so that your employer can withhold the correct California state income tax from your paycheck.
Enter Personal Information
First, Middle, Last Name Social Security Number
Address
City, State, and ZIP Code
Filing Status
SINGLE or MARRIED (with two or more incomes)
MARRIED (one income)
HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD
1.Total Number of Allowances you’re claiming (Use Worksheet A for regular withholding
allowances. Use other worksheets on the following pages as applicable, Worksheet A+B).
2.Additional amount, if any, you want withheld each pay period (if employer agrees), (Worksheet B and C)
OR
Exemption from Withholding
3.I claim exemption from withholding for 2020, and I certify I meet both of the conditions for exemption.
OR Write “Exempt” here
4.I certify under penalty of perjury that I am not subject to California withholding. I meet the conditions set
forth under the Service Member Civil Relief Act, as amended by the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
and the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018.(Check box here)
Under the penalties of perjury, I certify that the number of withholding allowances claimed on this certificate does not exceed the number
to which I am entitled or, if claiming exemption from withholding, that I am entitled to claim the exempt status.
Employee’s Signature ____________________________________________________________Date
Employer’s Section: Employer’s Name and Address California Employer Payroll Tax Account Number
PURPOSE: This certificate, DE 4, is for California Personal
Income Tax (PIT) withholding purposes only. The DE 4 is used to
compute the amount of taxes to be withheld from your wages,
by your employer, to accurately reflect your state tax withholding
obligation.
Beginning January 1, 2020, Employee’s Withholding Allowance
Certificate (Form W-4) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will
be used for federal income tax withholding only. You must file the
state form Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate (DE 4)
to determine the appropriate California Personal Income Tax (PIT)
withholding.
If you do not provide your employer with a withholding certificate,
the employer must use Single with Zero withholding allowance.
CHECK YOUR WITHHOLDING: After your DE 4 takes effect,
compare the state income tax withheld with your estimated total
annual tax. For state withholding, use the worksheets on this form.
EXEMPTION FROM WITHHOLDING: If you wish to claim
exempt, complete the federal Form W-4 and the state DE 4. You
may claim exempt from withholding California income tax if you
meet both of the following conditions for exemption:
1.You did not owe any federal/state income tax last year, and
2.You do not expect to owe any federal/state income tax this
year. The exemption is good for one year.
If you continue to qualify for the exempt filing status, a new DE 4
designating EXEMPT must be submitted by February 15 each year
to continue your exemption. If you are not having federal/state
income tax withheld this year but expect to have a tax liability
next year, you are required to give your employer a new DE 4 by
December 1.
Member Service Civil Relief Act: Under this act, as provided by the
Military Spouses Residency Relief Act and the Veterans Benefits and
Transition Act of 2018, you may be exempt from California income
tax on your wages if
(i)your spouse is a member of the armed forces present in
California in compliance with military orders;
(ii)you are present in California solely to be with your spouse;
and
(iii)you maintain your domicile in another state.
If you claim exemption under this act, check the box on Line 4.
You may be required to provide proof of exemption upon request.
DE 4 Rev. 49 (2-20) (INTERNET) Page 1 of 4
The California Employer’s Guide (DE 44) (PDF, 2.4 MB) (edd.ca.gov/pdf_pub_ctr/de44.pdf) provides the income tax
withholding tables. This publication may be found by visiting Forms and Publications (edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Taxes/Forms_and_
Publications.htm). To assist you in calculating your tax liability, please visit the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) (ftb.ca.gov).
If you need information on your last California Resident Income Tax Return (FTB Form 540), visit the Franchise Tax Board
(FTB) (ftb.ca.gov).
NOTIFICATION: The burden of proof rests with the
employee to show the correct California income tax
withholding. Pursuant to section 4340-1(e) of Title 22,
California Code of Regulations (CCR), the FTB or the EDD
may, by special direction in writing, require an employer to
submit a Form W-4 or DE 4 when such forms are necessary
for the administration of the withholding tax programs.
PENALTY: You may be fined $500 if you file, with no
reasonable basis, a DE 4 that results in less tax being
withheld than is properly allowable. In addition, criminal
penalties apply for willfully supplying false or fraudulent
information or failing to supply information requiring an
increase in withholding. This is provided by section 13101
of the California Unemployment Insurance Code and
section 19176 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
DE 4 Rev. 49 (2-20) (INTERNET) Page 2 of 4
WORKSHEETS
INSTRUCTIONS — 1 — ALLOWANCES*
When determining your withholding allowances, you must consider your
personal situation:
—Do you claim allowances for dependents or blindness?
—Will you itemize your deductions?
—Do you have more than one income coming into the household?
TWO-EARNERS/MULTIPLE INCOMES: When earnings are derived
from more than one source, under-withholding may occur. If you have a
working spouse or more than one job, it is best to check the box “SINGLE
or MARRIED (with two or more incomes).” Figure the total number of
allowances you are entitled to claim on all jobs using only one DE 4 form.
Claim allowances with one employer.
Do not claim the same allowances with more than one employer. Your
withholding will usually be most accurate when all allowances are claimed
on the DE 4 filed for the highest paying job and zero allowances are
claimed for the others.
MARRIED BUT NOT LIVING WITH YOUR SPOUSE: You may check the
“Head of Household” marital status box if you meet all of the following
tests:
(1) Your spouse will not live with you at any time during the year;
(2) You will furnish over half of the cost of maintaining a home for the
entire year for yourself and your child or stepchild who qualifies as
your dependent; and
(3) You will file a separate return for the year.
HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD: To qualify, you must be unmarried or legally
separated from your spouse and pay more than 50% of the costs of
maintaining a home for the entire year for yourself and your dependent(s)
or other qualifying individuals. Cost of maintaining the home includes such
items as rent, property insurance, property taxes, mortgage interest, repairs,
utilities, and cost of food. It does not include the individual’s personal
expenses or any amount which represents value of services performed by a
member of the household of the taxpayer.
WORKSHEET A REGULAR WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCES
(A) Allowance for yourself — enter 1 (A)
(B) Allowance for your spouse (if not separately claimed by your spouse) — enter 1 (B)
(C) Allowance for blindness — yourself — enter 1 (C)
(D) Allowance for blindness — your spouse (if not separately claimed by your spouse) — enter 1 (D)
(E) Allowance(s) for dependent(s) — do not include yourself or your spouse (E)
(F) Total — add lines (A) through (E) above and enter on line 1 of the DE 4 (F)
INSTRUCTIONS — 2 — (OPTIONAL) ADDITIONAL WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCES
If you expect to itemize deductions on your California income tax return, you can claim additional withholding allowances. Use Worksheet B to determine
whether your expected estimated deductions may entitle you to claim one or more additional withholding allowances. Use last year’s FTB Form 540 as a
model to calculate this year’s withholding amounts.
Do not include deferred compensation, qualified pension payments, or flexible benefits, etc., that are deducted from your gross pay but are not taxed on this
worksheet.
You may reduce the amount of tax withheld from your wages by claiming one additional withholding allowance for each $1,000, or fraction of $1,000, by
which you expect your estimated deductions for the year to exceed your allowable standard deduction.
WORKSHEET B ESTIMATED DEDUCTIONS
Use this worksheet only if you plan to itemize deductions, claim certain adjustments to income, or have a large amount of nonwage income not subject to
withholding.
1. Enter an estimate of your itemized deductions for California taxes for this tax year as listed in the schedules in the FTB Form 540 1.
2. Enter $9,074 if married filing joint with two or more allowances, unmarried head of household, or qualifying widow(er)
with dependent(s) or $4,537 if single or married filing separately, dual income married, or married with multiple employers – 2.
3. Subtract line 2 from line 1, enter difference = 3.
4. Enter an estimate of your adjustments to income (alimony payments, IRA deposits) + 4.
5. Add line 4 to line 3, enter sum = 5.
6. Enter an estimate of your nonwage income (dividends, interest income, alimony receipts) – 6.
7. If line 5 is greater than line 6 (if less, see below [go to line 9]);
Subtract line 6 from line 5, enter difference = 7.
8. Divide the amount on line 7 by $1,000, round any fraction to the nearest whole number 8. Add this number to Line F of Worksheet A and enter it on line 1 of the DE 4. Complete Worksheet C, if needed, otherwise stop here.
9. If line 6 is greater than line 5;
Enter amount from line 6 (nonwage income) 9.
10. Enter amount from line 5 (deductions) 10.
11. Subtract line 10 from line 9, enter difference 11. Complete Worksheet C
*Wages paid to registered domestic partners will be treated the same for state income tax purposes as wages paid to spouses for California PIT withholding
and PIT wages. This law does not impact federal income tax law. A registered domestic partner means an individual partner in a domestic partner
relationship within the meaning of section 297 of the Family Code. For more information, please call our Taxpayer Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886.
DE 4 Rev. 49 (2-20) (INTERNET) Page 3 of 4
DE 4 Rev. 49 (2-20) (INTERNET) Page 4 of 4
WORKSHEET C ADDITIONAL TAX WITHHOLDING AND ESTIMATED TAX
1. Enter estimate of total wages for tax year 2020. 1.
2. Enter estimate of nonwage income (line 6 of Worksheet B). 2.
3. Add line 1 and line 2. Enter sum. 3.
4. Enter itemized deductions or standard deduction (line 1 or 2 of Worksheet B, whichever is largest). 4.
5. Enter adjustments to income (line 4 of Worksheet B). 5.
6. Add line 4 and line 5. Enter sum. 6.
7. Subtract line 6 from line 3. Enter difference. 7.
8. Figure your tax liability for the amount on line 7 by using the 2020 tax rate schedules below. 8.
9. Enter personal exemptions (line F of Worksheet A x $134.20). 9.
10. Subtract line 9 from line 8. Enter difference. 10.
11. Enter any tax credits. (See FTB Form 540). 11.
12. Subtract line 11 from line 10. Enter difference. This is your total tax liability. 12.
13. Calculate the tax withheld and estimated to be withheld during 2020. Contact your employer to request
the amount that will be withheld on your wages based on the marital status and number of withholding
allowances you will claim for 2020. Multiply the estimated amount to be withheld by the number of pay
periods left in the year. Add the total to the amount already withheld for 2020. 13.
14. Subtract line 13 from line 12. Enter difference. If this is less than zero, you do not need to have additional
taxes withheld. 14.
15. Divide line 14 by the number of pay periods remaining in the year. Enter this figure on line 2 of the DE 4. 15.
NOTE: Your employer is not required to withhold the additional amount requested on line 2 of your DE 4. If your employer does not agree to withhold the
additional amount, you may increase your withholdings as much as possible by using the “single” status with “zero” allowances. If the amount withheld still
results in an underpayment of state income taxes, you may need to file quarterly estimates on Form 540-ES with the FTB to avoid a penalty.
THESE TABLES ARE FOR CALCULATING WORKSHEET C AND FOR 2020 ONLY
SINGLE PERSONS, DUAL INCOME
MARRIED WITH MULTIPLE EMPLOYERS
IF THE TAXABLE INCOME IS COMPUTED TAX IS
OVER BUT NOT
OVER
OF AMOUNT OVER...PLUS
$0 $8,809 1.100%$0 $0.00
$8,809 $20,883 2.200%$8,809 $96.90
$20,883 $32,960 4.400%$20,883 $362.53
$32,960 $45,753 6.600%$32,960 $893.92
$45,753 $57,824 8.800%$45,753 $1,738.26
$57,824 $295,373 10.230%$57,824 $2,800.51
$295,373 $354,445 11.330%$295,373 $27,101.77
$354,445 $590,742 12.430%$354,445 $33,794.63
$590,742 $1,000,000 13.530%$590,742 $63,166.35
$1,000,000 and over 14.630%$1,000,000 $118,538.96
MARRIED PERSONS
IF THE TAXABLE INCOME IS COMPUTED TAX IS
OVER BUT NOT
OVER
OF AMOUNT OVER...PLUS
$0 $17,618 1.100%$0 $0.00
$17,618 $41,766 2.200%$17,618 $193.80
$41,766 $65,920 4.400%$41,766 $725.06
$65,920 $91,506 6.600%$65,920 $1,787.84
$91,506 $115,648 8.800%$91,506 $3,476.52
$115,648 $590,746 10.230%$115,648 $5,601.02
$590,746 $708,890 11.330%$590,746 $54,203.55
$708,890 $1,000,000 12.430%$708,890 $67,589.27
$1,000,000 $1,181,484 13.530%$1,000,000 $103,774.24
$1,181,484 and over 14.630%$1,181,484 $128,329.03
UNMARRIED HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD
IF THE TAXABLE INCOME IS COMPUTED TAX IS
OVER BUT NOT
OVER
OF AMOUNT OVER...PLUS
$0 $17,629 1.100%$0 $0.00
$17,629 $41,768 2.200%$17,629 $193.92
$41,768 $53,843 4.400%$41,768 $724.98
$53,843 $66,636 6.600%$53,843 $1,256.28
$66,636 $78,710 8.800%$66,636 $2,100.62
$78,710 $401,705 10.230%$78,710 $3,163.13
$401,705 $482,047 11.330%$401,705 $36,205.52
$482,047 $803,410 12.430%$482,047 $45,308.27
$803,410 $1,000,000 13.530%$803,410 $85,253.69
$1,000,000 and over 14.630%$1,000,000 $111,852.32
If you need information on your last California Resident Income Tax
Return, FTB Form 540, visit Franchise Tax Board (FTB) (ftb.ca.gov).
The DE 4 information is collected for purposes of administering the PIT law and under the authority of Title 22, CCR, section 4340-1, and the California
Revenue and Taxation Code, including section 18624. The Information Practices Act of 1977 requires that individuals be notified of how information they
provide may be used. Further information is contained in the instructions that came with your last California resident income tax return.