What is a W-4 Form?

A Form W-4 is an IRS form that employees fill out and forward to their employers when initiating a new job. Employers use this information to gather how much tax to withhold from an employee’s paycheck through out annually. It is formerly known as Employee Withholding Certificate.

How to fill out a 2023 W-4 form

Employers use the W-4 to calculate various payroll taxes and remit the taxes to to state , local authorities and IRS on behalf of employees.

First Step Personal Information

Enter your name, address, tax filling status and Social Security number.

Second Step Account for various jobs

If you file jointly and your spouse works and you do more than one jobs follow the instructions to get right witholding

• For the highest paying job W-4 fill out steps 2 through 4 b of the W-4 leave those steps blank on the W-4 for other jobs
• If you and your spouse have a total of 2 jobs and earn same amount at both you can instead opt to check box 2 to indicate this.
• If you do not want to show your employer that you have other sources of income or other job.
• On line 4 c you can tell your employer to withhold an amount of tax from your paycheck

Third Step Claim Dependents

If your total income is less than $200000 or jointly $400000 you can show how many kids and dependent you have and multiply them by credit amount.

Fourth Step Refine your witholdings

If you desire to claims deductions or extra tax witheld other than the standard deduction you can note that.

Fifth Step Sign your W-4

Once completed give the signed form to your employer human resources.

Do I have to update my W-4 every year?

No you do not needed to update W-4 form every year. It is only needed when you start a job with new employer or want to adjust your witholdings at your existing jobs.

Is there a new W-4 for 2023?

The IRS releases update version of W-4 2023 in late 2022. The 2023 W-4 form is similar to 2022 version. It has some changes removing a reference to the IRS withholding calculator updating the deduction worksheet.

If you do not have a high income and you have a dream of your homeownership it is so difficult to fulfill. As the time passes these dreams are out of your hand.Home prices have been increasing 4 times faster than income according to 2023 survey.

However do not be pessimistic there are plenty of options such as mortgages and various loan programs are available to assist homebuyers who earn less than specific income.

Can We Buy a House With Low Income?

Yes it is possible to purchase a home when you earn a very low income. There are two challenges in your mind

• Being able to afford the mortgage payment
• Saving enough money for a down payment

Majority of homebuyers will face these difficulties due to cost of living in a certain area. There are some tactics to buying a home on a low income.Many resources are available to low income earners which are available to high income earners.

Various programes are available to assist lower income people purchase home. You can check your state housing agency and your local public housing agency to assist you to buy a home. Each program has its own criteria to judge low income eligibility criteria.

Best Tips for Buying a House With Low Income

Here is few tips to buying a house with less income

• Pay down debt
• Start saving for a down payment
• Improve your credit score
• Consider budget and fit mortgage

Search into Home Buying Assistance Programs

HUD Good Neighbor Program

EMTs, Teachers, Police Officers and Firefighters are eligible to purchase homes at 50% discount if they agree to lives in the house for three years in revitalizing communities

State housing finance agency

Each state has its programs available to buy house for low incomes. You can relate with your state housing finance agency through National Council of State Housing Agency.Down Payment Assistance and Low Income mortgage programs are available.

HUD Housing Choice Voucher

This Voucher assists low income families afford ongoing cost of homeownership including maintenance, utilties. These vouchers are available in various public housing agencies.

Low-Income Mortgage Options

Various Programs are available to assist homeownership for low incomes people.

USDA Loans

No down payment needed for low income residing in rural areas

FHA Loans

Down payment is as low as 3.5%. It is easy to meet credit criteria.

VA Loans

They have lower interest no down payment and neither private mortgage insurance is required.

Moving to a Lower Cost of Living Area

If you moves to a lower cost of living area than your cost of living will be cheap. You save lot of money.You may be able to afford a home sooner.Think to move into a different suburb or neighborhood.

Consider Buying Townhome or Condo

Consider Buying a Condo or a townhouse instead of a detached home. Across the U.S the median condo and co -op sale price was 15% less than that of single family homes

FAQ

Can you buy a house with no money down?

Mortgages with no money down are not available to the common public. If you reside in rural areas and meet criteria you may qualify for a USDA loan without down payment.VA loans are available for Army members and veterans donot need a down payment.

In past the super method to make a stock trade was to call a broker over the phone and request them to order for you.Now this world has become a global village thanks to internet revolution. You can purchase and sell securities online

Now doing business with online stock broker is easier. However various stockbrokers have different qualities to each other. In this article We recommend some Online Stockbroker

• TD Ameritrade
• tastyworks
• Fidelity
• InteractiveBrokers

TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade is one of the superb stockbrokers for mobile users and beginners investors.It offers simple apps to use and good interface and inviting user experience. You can easily access your portfolio and start trading from phone and laptops.

It keeps cost minimum by avoiding commission or other charges when you make trading. In their app free access to online education tools and material that assist you in beginner and advance investing concepts.Minimum deposit fees is nothing.Fee for ETF, None of Stocks mutual funds and 65 cents per contract for options.

It works with various accounts such as Retirement, Standard, education,margin, managed portfolios and trusts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No commission
• No minimums
• Free education courses
• Friendly Interface

Cons

• No fractional Share Investing

tastyworks

tastyworks is a stockbrokers built with day traders. tastyworks superb when it comes to options because cost is very minimum. Tastyworks limit the maximum fees for a single trade upto 10 dollar.You can add or skip large positions without having to worry about fees consuming your returns.

Minimum deposit fees is zero dollar.Account types are retirement,trust and standard. No fees required for closing. $1 per options fees to contract to open maximum 10 dollars. None of Stocks or ETFs. 1% for crypto.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Trade cryptocurrencies
• Low commissions
• Various derviatives available

Cons

• Easy use for advanced investors not beginner

Fidelity

Fidelity controlling more than $10 trillion in investor making its largest financial company in the planet. Fidelity make it easy to trade with your laptop or cellphone. Easy to manage your portfolio.

It is good for new investors.No minimum balance required and no minimum amount to invest in Fidelity mutual funds.You can start buying stocks and ETFs with $1. It has no commissions and low fees.It offers zero expense ratio index mutual funds no fees to paid.

Minimum deposit fee is nothing.No fees for None for stocks ETFs and mutual funds. 65 cents er contract for options. Accounts are standard retirement, margin trading and trusts

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Various accounts
• low costs
• can invest in fractional shares
• no minimum balance requirements

Cons

• Minimal research tools

InteractiveBrokers

Interactive Brokers designed for advance insvestors.It offers various tools. The company is also the top broker for traders to buy and sell on international stock platform. It is active in 33 countries and in 25 different currencies covering 150 different markets.

You can trade stocks, options, future stocks and currencies from a single account. It has maximum commission of 1% per trade. It has minimum deposit fee $0.Account type are retirement,standard. It has fees o to 0.005 cent per share

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Designed for active traders
• Best Research tools
• Access to global markets

Cons

• Good for advanced investors not beginners

How Does an Online Stockbroker Work?

Online stockbrokers work by assisting to buying and sale of investments, options, bond, stock and others.

You can sign up to your online stockbroker account and place order to sell or buy securities and assets for your investment portfolio.

Many Online Stockbroker control their own mutual funds or ETFs making it easy for investors to manage diversified portfolios.

Long Term saving accounts are used to hold the money that you do not need to use any time soon.There are several types of long term saving accounts such as high yield accounts, Certificates of deposit and IRAs. These accounts is used by customer if they have a financial purpose like saving for children marriages.

What is Long Term Savings Account?

Long Term Savings Account are used to hold the money you do not need to expense in near days. You can have a long term saving accounts at a financial institution,credit union or bank. Some may have withdrawal limits or charge monthly fees. Long terms saving accounts are ideal for purposes that are many months or years. It benefits you in form of compounding interest.

Who Needs a Long Term Savings Account?

Having a long term savings account can benefit every one who desire to more money and does not wish to spend in near future. For example if you want to pay your children college fees in future and they are still young it will helpful in future.It also helpful when you are ready to retire. Sometimes they offer tax advantages.

Types of Long Term Saving Accounts

Every Long Term Saving Accounts are different to each other. They are different in interest rates, fees you might pay and any applicable tax.

Education Savings Account

A 529 saving accounts permit you to contribute amount on behalf of a qualified beneficiary such as your self grandchild or your child. Those contributions are tax free withdrawals and grown tax deferred when used for qualified education spending.

A Coverdell Education Savings Account ESA works the same path however the difference is that a Coverdell ESA maximum your yearly contribution at $2000 and no further contributions can be made after the beneficiary 18th birthday.

You must draw all amount from beneficiary accounts at his/her 30th birthday otherwise a tax penalty imposed.

Certificates of Deposit

CDs are time deposit.The money you enter to CDs earns interest over a specific period.Once the CD matures your get your initial deposit along with the interest earned.

First compare CDs rates before choosing one.Some CDs have longer duration as long as 10 years and some have shorter period 30 to 90 days.In most case the longer the CD term the maximum your interest rate and APY are likely to be.

High Yield Saving Accounts

High yield saving accounts give you interest rate and annual percentage yields (APY).High Yield Saving Accounts from banks can also charge less fees allowing you to keep more of the interest you earn.

Employer Sponsored Retirement Accounts

An Employer Sponsored Retirement Accounts is another long term saving accounts with tax benefits.Annual contribution limit is higher than IRAs and contributions are tax deductible.

Individual Retirement Accounts

IRAs are tax benefits method to save for retirement. Traditional IRA taxes are deductible on your contributions each year. Roth IRA you do not get a tax deductions for contributions but withdrawals are 100% tax free.

Money saved in an IRA can be invest in exchange traded funds or mutual funds.

How To Use Long Terms Savings

• Check account fees
• Choose accounts suit your time frame
• Remember rates can change
• Compare Interest Rates
• Remember CD maturity dates