Should I Claim 0 or 1 on My W-4?
The modern W-4 doesn't use these numbers — but the concept still applies. Here's the complete answer.
By Reba Donaldson · Last reviewed: April 2026
The short answer
The W-4 redesigned in 2020 eliminated allowance numbers entirely. You can no longer literally "claim 0 or 1." But the underlying concept — how much tax gets withheld — still works the same way. Here's the translation:
New equivalent: Leave Step 3 blank. Add extra withholding in Step 4(c) if desired. Biggest refund, smallest paychecks.
New equivalent: Add yourself as a dependent in Step 3 (not technically correct but approximates the old effect). Bigger paychecks, smaller or no refund.
Which should you choose?
Choose maximum withholding (old "claim 0") if:
- You want the largest possible tax refund
- You have a complex tax situation with multiple income sources
- You've owed money at tax time before and want to avoid it
- You're single with one job and want simplicity
Choose lower withholding (old "claim 1") if:
- You want larger paychecks throughout the year
- You know your tax situation is simple (one job, no side income)
- You consistently get a large refund and want to adjust
The real answer: use the calculator
The "0 or 1" framework is an oversimplification. The modern W-4 is designed to get your withholding as close as possible to your actual tax liability — not just pick between two extremes. Our W-4 tool asks about your full situation and gives you the exact amounts to enter on each line, resulting in the most accurate withholding possible.
What about married filers?
The old advice of "both spouses claim 0" or "one claims 1" no longer applies. If both you and your spouse work, you need to complete Step 2 of the W-4 to account for the combined income — otherwise you'll almost certainly be underwithheld. See our guide for married couples for the full walkthrough.