Review Your W-4 to Avoid Surprises at Tax Time

U of A employees are encouraged to review their federal income tax withholding to help avoid unexpected tax bills or smaller refunds next spring. 

Faculty, staff and student employees can check and update their tax elections in Workday and use tools like the IRS Withholding Estimator or Workday's Model My Pay to preview how changes could affect their paycheck. 

Reviewing withholding now can help avoid a tax bill later or increase take-home pay if an employee prefers smaller refunds. It's especially important for those who have had a major life change such as a new job, marriage, home purchase or change in income. Employees whose tax situation has not changed have no need to update their W-4. 

Helpful tools 
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator helps determine the most accurate withholding using recent pay stubs, income sources and prior tax returns. Workday's Model My Pay tool lets users simulate tax withholding changes before making them official. 

To update your W-4 in Workday: 

• Go to the Benefits and Pay Hub 

• Select "Pay," then "Tax" 

• Click "Update" next to your federal or state elections 

Changes take effect with the next payroll cycle. For assistance, contact payroll@uark.edu or schedule time through the payroll services booking app.

Note: Payroll staff can help with updating W-4 information in Workday but are not licensed tax professionals. For questions about how much to withhold, employees should consult a tax adviser.