The U.S. Treasury Department recently released updated income tax withholding guidance reflecting the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Here’s a quick rundown of the Five Ws –Who, What, Where, When, and Why – to help you understand what this means for you.

Why These Updates Mean More Take-Home Pay

Federal tax withholding is how much of your pay the federal government takes from every paycheck. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the federal government will take less because the law lowers tax rates for Americans of all income levels and nearly doubles the standard deduction.

Who Will See the Difference: The Vast Majority of Taxpayers

As Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin explains, the historic tax relief provided by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – and the updated tax withholding guidance – will help taxpayers across the country:

“With this guidance, most American workers will begin to see bigger paychecks. We estimate that 90 percent of wage earners will experience an increase in their take home pay.”

 Where to Look on Your Pay Stub

For most taxpayers, there are two key places on a typical pay stub where you will see the effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

1. Net Pay: This is the total amount of money you keep from every paycheck after federal income taxes and other deductions. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this number will be larger due to the lower tax rates and significantly larger standard deduction.

2. Federal Tax Withholding: This is the amount of your pay the federal government takes from every paycheck for income taxes. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this number will go down in comparison to your old pay stubs.

When You Will See the Increase in Your Paycheck

Employers can immediately begin using the new withholding tables for their workers and have until February 15 to make the updates. According to the IRS, this means:

“Employees should begin to see withholding changes in their checks in February. The exact timing depends on when their employer can make the change and how often they are paid. It typically takes payroll providers and employers about a month to update withholding changes on their systems.”

What You Can Look Forward to Next

Already in 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has resulted in more than 200 companies announcing new investments in America, creating new jobs, and increasing pay and benefits for their workers. So not only will the law allow Americans to keep more of their take-home pay, it is contributing to more jobs and bigger paychecks across the country.

As House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) recently stated:

“The American people work hard to earn their paychecks and support their families. Finally, they have a tax code that allows them to keep more of their money to use as they see fit.This is just one of many ways the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will improve lives in our nation – and it’s only the beginning. As each new part of the law takes effect, families will see more of the benefits. That means a stronger economy with more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks for Texans and hardworking taxpayers nationwide.”

CLICK HERE for more information about the updated withholding guidance for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

CLICK HERE to learn more about what this historic tax reform law means for you and your family.