Too much taxes taken out of paycheck?

Question

I recently started a job at a local convenience store and job my paycheck for my first week of work. I worked 31 hours but after taxes i only made $182.35. It got me thinking and it seems that this is way too much tax because it comes out to be 221.65 without taxes, meaning they took almost $40 in taxes out of my pay. I asked my friend who works at a fast food place and he worked 37hrs and had only around $20 taken from his pay for taxes. Is this too much tax and what should i do to have less taken out of my paycheck? I'm from NY if this is any help.

Answer 1

If you know that you are going to make less than $5450 in 2008, you can claim exempt on your W-4 for Fed taxes.  I'm not sure what the limit is for NY though.

Answer 2

depends on what you put on your w-4 for federal tax exemption compared to what your friend did - if you will make less than $3400 or so in all of 2008, you can file a new w-4 with yur payroll office and check exempt - Federal income tax withheld will be zero - all other taxes will still be deducted - maybe your friend works for a lower hourly wage also

Answer 3

You need to fill out a new w-4 and make sure you are only claiming 1 deduction if you are single. You can always claim 0 and nothing taken out, but if you make too much money you will owe taxes at the end of the year.

Answer 4

Nope. Sounds about right. They have to take 6.2% in Social Security, 1.45% in Medicare, and whatever Fed & State income taxes based on what you claim on your W-4. (Single, Married, # of exemptions, etc).

Your friend may claim something different on his W-4, and he also may have a slightly different pay cycle (weekly vs bi-weekly). Your net pay of $182.35 sounds right in line. Such is the privelage of working in the great United States!

edited to add: if you want less money taken out of your check, claim more exemptions on your W-4. Jsut be prepared for what this may do to you come January tax time.