19 yr old, Step-Father Claims me, can I put down "1"? instead of "0"?

Question

Hello,

I am 19 years old, My Step-father claims me under his taxes and well I just got a job (I dont go to school) and my manager made me fill out this W-4 Form and he then asked me "Do you want to put down 0 or 1"? Now I don't know which one to put down, I mean I know "0" gets you back more money at the end of the year but with "1" you get little back but more in your paycheck.

Also, I don't leave my step-father anymore, I am staying at my Girlfriend's parents house (in which they don't want to claim me under their taxes).

Even tho my Step-father claims me, can I put down "1"?

Btw, If I can't put down "1" does that mean I have to ask my Step-Father to NOT put me down under his taxes?

Alrighty well my Step-Father already filed his taxes and claimed me but do I put down "1" now and then next time he does his taxes (next year) he is NOT allowed to claim me?

btw, I didn't file taxes cause I just moved to the U.S. in May of 2006 and I also didn't work at all cause I was in the middle of getting my Green Card.

UPDATE: Okay so ill put down "1" because I am currently not a student however I WILL be a Student this Fall and I dunno if I will move back into my step-father's house or not.

Also, I might be applying for Finaical Aid for School.

So to sum it up, If and When I do go to College do I then have to ask my Employer to change my W-4 to "0"?

Answer 1

Anything you put on your W-4 now would apply for earnings in 2007, and for your tax return filed next year on April 15. So if your stepfather has claimed you as a dependent in the past, he may no longer be able to do so on next year's tax return. It appears to me that he will not be able to claim you as a dependent anyway, since you are no longer living at home and he is not contributing to your support.

But your W-4 form is only for the purpose of estimating the income tax to be withheld from your paycheck. Your are right in that a "0" will cause more to be withheld. That way, if you are getting a refund, the refund will be larger than if you put down a "1". Actually, you can put down a "2", or "3", or "4", or more, depending on your situation, to have increasingly smaller amounts withheld from your paycheck. It is your responsibility to make your own best estimate.

The tax law requires that during the course of the year that you have withheld at least 90% of the taxes due, up to the amount for the taxes you had to pay in the previous year. If you underpaid, you may be subject to a penalty. The exact wording for this requirement may be found on page 62 for the Instructions for Form 1040:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040.pdf

From your question it seems that you may not have paid income tax in 2006. If that is correct, you don't have to have taxes withheld in 2007, but when you file your 2007 tax return on April 15, 2008, you'll have to submit the full amount due since nothing was withheld.

What you should probably do is enter "1" on your W-4, and let your stepfather know so that he can plan his 2007 taxes accordingly.

Answer 2

As Judy said, if you are 19 and not a student, your step-father probably can't legally claim you as a dependent. Your girlfriend's parents probably can't either. The only way either could is if you make less than $3300 for the year AND they provide at least half of your support. Even them you would have to live in your girlfriend's parent's house the entire year for them to claim you. If, as I believe, you can claim yourself, you may be able to claim 2 on your W-4. See pages 19 and 20 of the 1040 instructions from rules about who can or can't claim you. Then use the IRS withholding calculator to decide what to put on your W-4.

Answer 3

If you're 19 and not in school, and you make over $3300 for the year OR he isn't paying over half of your support, your stepfather is no longer allowed to claim you, so yes put down 1 and claim yourself. Let him know that you are doing this so he doesn't claim you also and get into problems over it with the IRS. He probably won't be happy about it, but let him know that he can no longer legally claim you.

Just looked at your additional info. If you didn't work at all in 2006, and lived with your stepfather for the rest of the year starting in May, then he could claim you for 2006, which is the return just filed recently. But he can't for 2007.

Answer 4

If you are over 19, not a student, and make more than $3400 in 2007, your stepfather CANNOT claim you on next years' tax return. If this is all true, go ahead and put down "1."

Answer 5

It relies upon. If he's making plans to make money from those photos., she would be able to do as Paris Hilton did, and take it to courtroom. won't be waiting to stop him from exposing those photos, yet she would be able to hit him the place it will harm, in his wallet. If she's specific he's proceeding to tutor those photos for loose.. same action. Take it to courtroom and pray you get a choose that would not could desire to make an occasion out of your daughter. (some human beings could think of this is what she gets for being stupid sufficient to enable some guy be shooting of her that she does not choose the international to make certain.) there's a average probability she could desire to get an injunction against him,. prohibiting him from exhibiting those %.. then lower back, who knows, she is going to could desire to take her possibilities with the criminal gadget. sturdy success! And uhm, tell your daughter to delight shop her clothing on around any cameras with the subsequent guy.

Answer 6

If you think your step father will (incorrectly) claim you for 2007, get your tax return filed ASAP in 2008. The first return with your SS# on it will get accepted by the IRS, but the second one will get rejected.

Answer 7

U R 19, CLAIM URSELF 1, U WILL C VERY LITTLE DIFFERNCE ON THE CHECK IN THE LONG RUN, IF U CLAIM O U WILL C THE $ EACH WEEK BUT U WILL OWE DBLE @ THE END OF TAX SEASON UR SF CAN NOT CLAIM U ON HIS TAXES IF HE IS NOT SUPPORTING UN IN EVERY WAY IT IS ILLEGAL WHERE IS UR MOTHER?