Updates to the Income Tax Withholding Tables and What You Need to Know

Like past years, the IRS changed the income tax withholding tables for 2023. Use these updated tables to calculate federal income tax on employee wages in 2023. In addition to the annual tax rate and bracket changes, employers can still use the optional computational bridge released in 2021.

Staying on top of changing employment tax rates can be an overwhelming but necessary employer task. Rates impact the amount of money you withhold from employee wages. 

If you aren’t familiar with the 2023 income tax withholding tables, say no more. We’ve got the scoop on how withholding tables work.

Read on to learn:

• What are income tax withholding tables?
• 2023 income tax withholding tables
• Tax brackets 2023
• Standard deduction 2023
• How to use a withholding tax table: Example

What are income tax withholding tables? 

Federal withholding tables determine how much money employers should withhold from employee wages for federal income tax (FIT). Use an employee’s Form W-4 information, filing status, and pay frequency to figure out FIT withholding.

New hires must fill out Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, when they start working at your business. The IRS designed a new W-4 form that removed withholding allowances beginning in 2020. This updated version of Form W-4 lets employees enter personal information, declare multiple jobs or a working spouse, claim dependents, and make other adjustments. 

Once you have an employee’s Form W-4 information, refer to the federal income tax withholding tables in IRS Publication 15-T. These tables provide federal income tax ranges based on pay frequency, filing status, and how the employee fills out Form W-4.

There are two main methods for determining an employee’s federal income tax withholding:

• Wage bracket method
• Percentage method 

Find the employee’s adjusted wage amount to use these income tax withholding tables that correspond with the new Form W-4. You can do this by using the IRS worksheet in Publication 15-T.

Wage bracket method 

If you use the wage bracket method, find the range under which the employee’s wages fall (i.e., “At least X, But less than X”).

Then, find the amount to withhold based on the information the employee entered on Form W-4 (e.g., standard withholding or withholding based on adjustments).

IRS Publication 15-T has two wage bracket method tables for income tax withholding. The section you use is based on the version of Form W-4 you have on file for the employee:

• Manual payroll systems (2020 and later Forms W-4)
• Manual payroll systems (2019 and earlier Forms W-4)

The wage bracket method tables only give tax rates for employees earning up to around $100,000 annually. If you’re using a 2019 or earlier Form W-4 and the employee claimed more than 10 allowances, you also cannot use the wage bracket method.

Percentage method 

The percentage method is a little different. Like the wage bracket method, there is a range that an employee’s wages can fall under. But unlike the wage bracket method, there is a flat dollar amount and a percentage calculation to add together.

So, how exactly does this work? There are two steps to using the percentage method:

• Find the employee’s range (i.e., “At least X, But less than X”) to get the tentative amount to withhold
• Add a percentage of the amount that the Adjusted Wage exceeds to Step 1

There are three sections in IRS Publication 15-T for the percentage method:

• Automated payroll systems
• Manual payroll systems (2020 and later Forms W-4)
• Manual payroll systems (2019 and earlier Forms W-4)

The percentage method works in all situations, regardless of wages or allowances (if using a 2019 or earlier W-4). Automated payroll systems use the percentage method.

2023 income tax withholding tables

Between 2022 and 2023, many of the changes brought about by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 remain the same. 

The following are aspects of federal income tax withholding that are unchanged in 2023:

1. No withholding allowances on 2020 and later Forms W-4
2. Supplemental tax rate: 22%
3. Backup withholding rate: 24%
4. Personal exemption remains at 0
5. Optional computational bridge still available 

Recap alert! Form W-4 changes: Again, the removal of withholding allowances is due to the redesigned IRS Form W-4. In the past, employees could claim more allowances to lower their FIT withholding. But for 2020 Forms W-4 and later, employees can lower their tax withholding by claiming dependents or using the deductions worksheet on the form. You must use this updated Form W-4 for all new hires. However, you may have 2019 and earlier Forms W-4 that do use allowances on file for existing employees. 

The IRS also provides a federal tax calculator for withholding each year. Individuals can use this tax calculator to determine their tax liabilities.

Federal income tax table changes 

The federal income tax tables change annually to adjust for inflation. Adjust your payroll tax withholding to reflect annual changes to income tax withholding tables. If you use online payroll software, the information automatically updates.

Due to the 2020 changes surrounding the repeal of withholding allowances and the redesign of Form W-4, you might still have questions about which table to reference. 

Like last year, the federal withholding tax table you use depends on which version of Form W-4 an employee filled out and whether you automate payroll or do it manually. 

Here’s a rundown of all of the federal income tax withholding methods available for determining an employee’s federal income tax withholding (unchanged):

1. Percentage method tables for automated payroll systems
2. Wage bracket method tables for manual payroll systems with Forms W-4 from 2020 or later
3. Wage bracket method tables for manual payroll systems with Forms W-4 from 2019 or earlier
4. Percentage method tables for manual payroll systems with Forms W-4 from 2020 or later
5. Percentage method tables for manual payroll systems with Forms W-4 from 2019 or earlier

There are also two additional methods the IRS offers:

1. Alternative methods for figuring withholding
2. Tables for withholding on distributions of Indian gaming profits to tribal members

You can view all of the income tax withholding table methods in IRS Publication 15-T.

If you’re using the IRS withholding tables for forms from 2020 and later, there is a “Standard withholding” and a “Form W-4, Step 2, Checkbox withholding” amount in place of the withholding allowances. 

So, what are the 2023 changes? The IRS adjusts income thresholds annually for inflation. That means the federal income tax withholding table ranges and tax rates vary year by year. You can view specifics about 2023 tables in IRS Publication 15-T.

Optional computational bridge 

You’re not alone if you’re wondering what an optional computational bridge is. The computational bridge involves “converting” 2019 and earlier Forms W-4 into 2020 and later Forms W-4. 

Of course, it’s not entirely a conversion process. But, the computational bridge does help you treat 2019 and earlier forms like 2020 and later forms for income tax withholding. 

This feature, originally released in tax year 2021, is completely optional.

If you decide you want to treat all Forms W-4 like the 2020 and later versions for consistency, get out the employee’s 2019 and earlier Form W-4. Also, refer to a 2020 and later Form W-4 for the “conversion.” 

Computational bridge steps

To use the computational bridge, you must:

1. Choose a filing status in Step 1(c) (2020 and later Form W-4) that reflects the employee’s marital status checked on Line 3 (2019 and earlier Form W-4)
   1. If the employee checked “Single” or “Married, but withhold at higher single rate” on the 2019 and earlier Form W-4, treat them as “Single” or “Married filing separately” on a 2020 or later Form W-4
   2. If the employee checked “Married” on the 2019 and earlier Form W-4, treat them as “Married filing jointly” on a 2020 or later Form W-4
2. Enter an amount in Step 4(a) (2020 and later Form W-4) based on the applicable filing status you selected:
   1. $8,600: “Single” or “Married filing separately” 
   2. $12,900: “Married filing jointly”
3. Multiply withholding allowances claimed on Line 5 (2019 and earlier Form W-4) by $4,300. Enter the total into Step 4(b) (2020 and later Form W-4)
4. Enter any additional withholding amounts requested on Line 6 (2019 and earlier Form W-4) into Step 4(c) (2020 and later Form W-4)

Yes, this is a lot to take in. You can make sense of these steps by referencing a 2019 and earlier Form W-4 and 2020 and later Form W-4 while going through the steps.

Tax brackets 2023

Taxpayers can use tax brackets to determine how much they’ll owe in federal income taxes. Like the income tax tables that employers use for withholding, these tax brackets also change annually.

For example, take a look at the 2023 federal income tax brackets for a single filer:

Tax Rate	Taxable Income Range	Taxation
10%	$0 – $11,000	10% of the taxable income
12%	$11,001 – $44,725	$1,100 plus 12% of the amount over $11,000
22%	$44,726 – $95,375	$5,147 plus 22% of the amount over $44,725
24%	$95,376 – $182,100	$16,290 plus 24% of the amount over $95,375
32%	$182,101 – $231,250	$37,104 plus 32% of the amount over $182,100
35%	$231,251 – $578,125	$52,832 plus 35% of the amount over $231,250
37%	$578,126 or more	$174,238.25 plus 37% of the amount over $578,125

You may notice that these tax bracket tax rates correspond to the percentage method tables percentages. 

For more information on 2023 federal income tax brackets and changes to 2023 tax brackets for other filing statuses, check out the IRS website.

Standard deduction increase 

Curious about changes to the standard deduction rate? Take a look at the table below to get the standard deduction, for each filing status, from the years 2020 – 2022.

Filing Status	Standard Deduction (2023)	Standard Deduction (2022)	Standard Deduction (2021)	Standard Deduction (2020)
Single	$13,850	$12,950	$12,550	$12,400
Married Filing Jointly	$27,700	$25,900	$25,100	$24,800
Married Filing Separately	$13,850	$12,950	$12,550	$12,400
Head of Household	$20,800	$19,400	$18,800	$18,650

How to use a withholding tax table: Example

Let’s say you have a single employee who earns $2,025 biweekly. They filled out the new 2020 Form W-4.

The employee has a relatively simple tax situation. When they filled out Form W-4, they wrote that they did not have another job or a working spouse. And, they did not claim dependents. They did not request any extra withholding.

Use the wage bracket method tables for manual payroll systems with Forms W-4 from 2020 or later to find out how much to withhold for federal income tax. This is Worksheet 2 in IRS Publication 15-T.

The worksheet is broken down into four steps:

1. Adjust the employee’s wage amount
2. Figure the tentative withholding amount
3. Account for tax credits
4. Figure the final amount to withhold

1. Adjust the employee’s wage amount

To use the new federal withholding tax table that corresponds with the new Form W-4, first find the employee’s adjusted wage amount. You can do this by completing Step 1 on Worksheet 2.

Because the employee’s tax situation is simple, you find that their adjusted wage amount is the same as their biweekly gross wages ($2,025).

2. Figure the tentative withholding amount

Now, use the income tax withholding tables to find which bracket $2,025 falls under for a single worker who is paid biweekly.

You find that this amount of $2,025 falls in the “At least $2,020, but less than $2,040” range.

Using the chart, you find that the “Standard withholding” for a single employee is $171. This is the tentative withholding amount to enter into Step 2.

3. Account for tax credits

Now, account for any dependents the employee claimed on Form W-4.

Because the employee didn’t claim any dependents, the employee’s tentative withholding amount is still $171.

4. Figure the final amount to withhold

Your last step for determining federal income tax withholding is to enter any additional amounts the employee requested withheld on Form W-4.

In this situation, the employee didn’t request extra withholding. So, the FIT amount to withhold from the employee’s wages each pay period is $171.

Worried about using income tax withholding tables to calculate taxes? What if we told you that payroll software can make your fears go away? Patriot’s online payroll automatically calculates taxes based on up-to-date tax rates so you don’t have to. Start your free trial now! 

This article has been updated from its original publication date of January 29, 2018.

This is not intended as legal advice; for more information, please click here.