Withholding Information

The Withholding Information screen displays the current tax withholding deductions being applied to your benefit. Both federal and state tax withholding data is available.

To access the Withholding Information screen, click on the Withholding Elections option in the left menu (under Benefit Information). The Tax Withholding Information screen appears.

If you have only one benefit, the screen automatically displays the tax withholding information for that benefit. If you have more than one benefit, the screen displays the tax withholding information for the first benefit you received. If you have more than one benefit and would like to see tax withholding information on a benefit that is not currently displayed, click on the down-arrow in the Select Benefit Type field and select the benefit you wish to view. The tax withholding information for the selected benefit will then be displayed on the screen.

There is a Federal Withholding Information section and a State Withholding Information section on this screen. The federal withholding section includes:

• Effective Date - Date the withholding type (election) became effective and applied to the benefit.
• Election - Method of withholding.
• Amount - Dollar amount withheld from each benefit payment.
• Filing Status - Filing status used to determine the tax table for calculating withholding.
• Exemptions - Number of exemptions used in determining the withholding allowance.
• Extra Withholding - Additional dollar amount withheld from each benefit payment.
• Calculated Withholding - Total dollar amount withheld from each benefit payment for federal withholding based on your current taxable income.

The state withholding section includes:

• Effective Date - Date the withholding type (election) became effective and applied to the benefit.
• State - State for which the state tax is being withheld. SCERA only withholds state taxes for California residents.
• Election - Method of withholding.
• Amount - Dollar amount withheld from each benefit payment.
• Filing Status - Marital status used to determine the tax table for calculating withholding.
• Allowance on DE-4P or W-4P - Number of allowances from the DE-4P or W-4P form that you have chosen to claim.
• Additional Allowance - Number of additional allowances that the that you have chosen to claim
• Extra Withholding - Additional dollar amount withheld from each benefit payment.
• Calculated Withholding - Total dollar amount withheld from each benefit payment forstate withholding based on your current taxable income.

You can change your federal or state tax withholdings by either entering the new information online or by downloading and printing a form to be returned to SCERA.

To change your withholdings online, click the appropriate edit link (Edit Federal Withholding or Edit State Withholding). Enter or modify the relevant information as needed. Based on the Election you select, the other fields will become enabled or disabled as needed. For example, Flat Amount withholding only requires entry of the flat amount you wish to withhold. Tax Table withholding requires selection of filing status and number of exemptions you wish to claim. Review your entries carefully and read the authorization agreement at the bottom of the screen. To cancel the process, click on "Cancel." To authorize your requested withholding changes, click Update. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you verifying your changes. Any changes you make here will not be effective until the month-end payroll following the current month.

To download the form to be filled out and returned to SCERA, click the Click Here link at the bottom of the screen. This will generate the form that you need. Print it, fill it out and return it to SCERA.

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