Disclaimer:
Human Resources employees are not tax specialists. By law, we are unable to provide any advice on completing Form W-4.
Who should complete a Form W-4?
If you are a new hire in 2020 or if you wish to update your current W-4 for payroll dated after January 1, 2020.
Form W-4 is designed to help employees more accurately calculate their withholding allowances. Withholding is an individual decision based on each person’s financial and personal situation. Each employee must make withholding decisions on their own, or with the assistance of their individual tax consultant. The UW is not authorized to provide tax advice.
If you want to complete a new Form W-4
If you decide that you would like to complete a new form, you can submit a Form W-4 (see below) to the Central Human Resources office, Engelmann 125. Before completing the 2020 form, please read the instructions included with the form.
You must complete Step 1 (personal information) and Step 5 (signing the form).
Steps 2, 3, and 4 are optional, but completing them will help ensure that your federal income tax withholding will more accurately match your tax liability.
- Step 2 is for households with multiple jobs.
- Step 3 is used to claim tax credits for dependents.
- Step 4 is for other adjustments (additional income such as interest and dividends, itemized deductions that exceed the standard deduction, and extra tax you want withheld).
Wisconsin Residents
Form W-4 requires Wisconsin residents to complete the Wisconsin Form WT-4 if adjusting Wisconsin state taxes. If no change is needed for current Wisconsin tax setup, you do not need to submit a revised Form WT-4.
Illinois, Minnesota, California Residents
The UW is now able to withhold tax for these three states if you meet the necessary requirements. If you would like taxes withheld, please submit that respective state’s W-4.
Other Resources
UW-Shared Services
IRS
Forms
| Form | Who Completes the Form | Links to Forms |
| Wisconsin Resident W-4 | Wisconsin Residents | |
| Non Wisconsin Resident W-4 | Non Wisconsin Residents and Foreign Nationals | |
| Non Wisconsin Resident Declaration of Wages | Earn over $1,500 in WI during a calendar year for residents of a non-reciprocity state that perform work primarily outside WI | Declaration of Wages for Non-Wisconsin Residents |
| California | Resident and primary work location | DE 4 |
| Connecticut | Resident and primary work location | Form CT-W4 |
| Georgia | Resident and primary work location | Form G-4 |
| Illinois | Resident | Form IL-W-4 |
| Minnesota | Resident and primary work location | Form W-4MN |
| Montana | Resident and primary work location | Form MW-4 |
| Nebraska | Resident and primary work location | Form W-4N |
| South Carolina | Resident and primary work location | SC W-4 |
Which Forms are Required
| Supplemental | Federal W-4 |
Wisconsin W-4 |
CA, CT, GA, IL, MN, MT, NE, SC W-4 |
Wisconsin Declaration of Wages | Foreign Source Income Statement | |
| New/Rehires | Yes | Yes | If Taxable | If Resident | No | No |
| WI Resident | Not Required, Preferred | If updating Fed tax withholding | If updating WI tax withholding | No | No | No |
| Non-WI Resident working in WI (Exc. IL, IN, MI, KY, CA, and MN) | Not Required, Preferred | If updating Fed tax withholding | If updating WI tax withholding | No | No | No |
| CA, CT, GA, IL, MN, MT, NE, SC Residents | Yes | If updating Fed tax withholding | No | If updating CA, CT, GA, IL, MN, MT, NE, SC tax withholding | No | No |
| UT Residents | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign Nationals | Always | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Claiming Reciprocity (IL, IN, MI, KY) | Always | If updating Fed tax withholding | No | No | No | No |
| Living/Working outside Wisconsin or Reciprocity State | Always | If updating Fed tax withholding | No | No | If Applicable | No |
| Living/Working outside USA | Always | No | No | No | No | If Applicable |
Questions: serviceoperations@uwss.wisconsin.edu