TAXES 15-43, Nonresident Alien Federal Income Tax Withholding
Published: December 29, 2015
Effective: Pay Period 25, 2015
Summary
Effective January 1, 2016, the Nonresident Alien Federal income tax withholding formula will change:
- The Single or Head of Household and Married withholding tables will change.
- The annual amount to add to a nonresident alien's taxable wages prior to calculating the tax withholding will decrease from $2,300 to $2,250.
- The exemption allowance will increase from $4,000 to $4,050.
Beginning with salary payments for Pay Period 25, 2015, Federal income tax will automatically be withheld in accordance with the new formula. No action on the part of the employee or the personnel office is necessary.
Tax Formula
Acceptable Exemption Form: |
W-4 |
Basis for Withholding: |
Federal Exemptions |
Acceptable Exemption Data: |
S, M/Number of Allowances |
TSP Deferred: |
Yes |
Special Coding: |
Determine the Total Number of Allowance as follows: Exemption Code N is the only acceptable code for nonresident aliens. Claim only one exemption, unless a resident of Canada, Mexico, South Korea, or a United States national. |
Additional Information: |
None |
Withholding Formula (Effective Pay Period 25, 2015)
- Subtract the nontaxable biweekly Thrift Savings Plan contribution from the gross biweekly wages.
- Subtract the nontaxable biweekly Federal Health Benefits Plan payment(s) (includes dental and vision insurance program, and flexible spending account - health care and dependent care deductions) from the amount computed in step 1.
- Add the taxable biweekly fringe benefits (taxable life insurance, etc.) to the amount computed in step 2 to obtain the adjusted gross biweekly wages.
- Multiply the adjusted gross biweekly wages times 26 to obtain the gross annual wages.
- Add $2,250 to the employee's annualized gross pay.
- Determine the personal exemption by applying the following guideline and subtract this amount from the gross wages to compute the taxable income.
Exemption Allowance = $4,050 x Number of Exemptions
- Apply the taxable income computed in step 6 to the following table to determine the Federal income tax withholding.
Tax Withholding Table Single or Head of Household
If the Amount of Taxable Income Is:
The Amount of Federal Income Tax Withholding Should be:
Not More than $2,250
$0
Over $2,250 but not over $11,525
$0 plus 10.0% over $2,250
Over $11,525 but not over $39,900
$927.50 plus 15.0% over $11,525
Over $39,900 but not over $93,400
$5,183.75 plus 25.0% over $39,900
Over $93,400 but not over $192,400
$18,558.75 plus 28.0% over $93,400
Over $192,400 but not over $415,600
$46,278.75 plus 33.0% over $192,400
Over $415,600 but not over $417,300
$119,934.75 plus 35.0% over $415,600
Over $417,300 and over
$120,529.75 plus 39.6% over $417,300
Tax Withholding Table Married
If the Amount of Taxable Income Is:
The Amount of Federal Income Tax Withholding Should be:
Not More than $8,550
$0
Over $8,550 but not over $27,100
$0 plus 10.0% over $8,550
Over $27,100 but not over $83,850
$1,855.00 plus 15.0% over $27,100
Over $83,850 but not over $160,450
$10,367.50 plus 25.0% over $83,850
Over $160,450 but not over $240,000
$29,517.50 plus 28.0% over $160,450
Over $240,000 but not over $421,900
$51,791.50 plus 33.0% over $240,000
Over $421,900 but not over $475,500
$111,818.50 plus 35.0% over $421,900
Over $475,500 and over
$130,578.50 plus 39.6% over $475,500
- Divide the annual Federal income tax withholding by 26 to obtain the biweekly Federal income tax withholding.
Inquiries
For questions about NFC processing, authorized Servicing Personnel Office representatives should contact the NFC Contact Center at 1-855-NFC-4GOV (1-855-632-4468) or via the Internet using the Requester Console.
Additional Resources
W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
Employees who intend to claim total Federal tax exemption for CY 2016 must submit a new W-4 prior to February 21, 2016. Effective Pay Period 04, 2016, employees who claimed total exemption for CY 2015 and who have not filed a new W-4 for CY 2016 will have Federal taxes withheld as single taxpayers with zero withholding allowance. A W-4 filed for the prior year does not extend tax exemption into CY 2016. A new W-4 must be filed for CY 2016.
To view the updated tax formula go to the HR and Payroll Clients page and click the Publications tab in the center ribbon. Select U.S. Income Tax Formulas from the Publication menu to launch the tax map. Click the Federal Income Tax Information under Additional Formulas and Agreements for the formula.