A Free September Paycheck Checkup Can Save You a Spring Surprise

Why September is a smart time to check

The IRS reminds workers to do a paycheck checkup. September is a good moment because there are still enough paydays left in the year to fix your tax withholding if something looks off.

A paycheck checkup means looking at how much tax is being taken out of your pay. If too little comes out, you could owe money next spring. If too much comes out, you are giving up cash you could use now.

The goal is simple: get your withholding close to what you will actually owe, so tax time brings no shocks.

Who should take a closer look

The IRS says a checkup is especially helpful if your life has changed this year. That includes getting married or divorced, having a baby, buying a home, or starting a second job.

It also helps if you work more than one job, if you and your spouse both work, or if you earn income that has no tax withheld, like freelance or gig work.

Even if nothing changed, a quick look never hurts. It only takes a few minutes and it is free.

How to fix it if the numbers look off

If your withholding needs adjusting, you can give your employer a new Form W-4. This tells them how much tax to hold back from each paycheck.

Making the change now, with several paydays left, spreads the fix out over the rest of the year. That is easier than one big correction in December.

This is all free to do. You do not need to pay anyone to review your paycheck or file a new W-4 with your employer.

Frequently asked questions

Does a paycheck checkup cost anything?

No. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is free, and filing a new Form W-4 with your employer is free. You never need to pay a middleman to check your paycheck.

What do I need to do the checkup?

Have your latest pay stub and your most recent tax return handy. That gives the IRS tool the numbers it needs to estimate your withholding.

What if I find out too little tax is being withheld?

You can give your employer a new Form W-4 to hold back more tax. Doing it now, with paydays left in the year, spreads the change out so it is easier on each check.

Is OpenFinancial part of the IRS?

No. OpenFinancial is a free resource that points you to official tools. The IRS is the official source, and its estimator is on IRS.gov.