Time to review exempt status on W-4 forms

January 25, 2021

Time to review exempt status on W-4 forms

It is time for employees who have previously marked exempt status on their Form W-4 (Employees Withholding Allowance Certificate) to review their filing status for the 2021 tax year.

Someone who files as exempt doesn’t have federal income tax payments withheld during the year. To qualify, one must  have owed no federal income tax in the prior tax year and expect to owe no federal income tax in the current tax year. 

In mid-February of each year, everyone with exempt status will see the status expire. IRS regulations require withholdings to be single and 0 if the exempt status is not renewed. 

Employees may refile as exempt via HRSS or by using a W-4 Withholding Allowance form.

The deadline for employees sending the form to Human Resources to continue the exempt status for 2021 with no interruptions is Feb. 4.

All forms should be submitted to your department’s payroll specialist through Moveit.