Quick Steps: Declare or Change Withholding Allowances

Who does this?  Stanford Employees (U.S. Citizens, Green Card Holders, Resident Aliens and Non-Resident Aliens)

When?  New employees need to declare withholding allowances; existing employees want to view, print, or change their current withholding allowances.

How?  Using Stanford's Online W-4 / DE-4 Application

 

On this page:

 

For U.S. Citizen, Green Card Holder and Resident Alien Employees (6 steps)

step 1

Launch Stanford's Axess web site:

  1. Click https://axess.stanford.edu/.
  2. Click Login button in Personal Login section.
  3. Enter your SUNet ID and password as prompted.
  4. Click the link on the Web Authentication window to continue.
step 2

Select Employee Information tab (this page defaults for most users when you first log in to Axess):

  • Click Edit W4 and DE4 Information link (found under Financial Information section in the upper left section of the page)
  • Click the link on the Web Authentication window to continue
step 3

Click Yes button to acknowledge your citizen, green card, or resident alien status and follow:

  1. Step 4 to declare withholding allowances as a new employee.
  2. Step 5 to change previously declared withholding allowances.
  3. Step 6 to print a copy of your current withholding allowances.
step 4

For NEW employees declaring withholding allowances for the first time:

  1. Complete the Federal W-4 Form:


  2. Note:  Name, Social Security Number and Home Address fields are pre-populated.

    • Select your filing status in section 3.
    • Enter the total number of allowances you wish to claim in section 5.


    • Note:  For help in determining your federal withholding allowances, click the W-4 Instructions and Worksheet link on top of the online form.

    • Enter any additional amount you want withheld from each paycheck in section 6.
    • Or check the box next to Exempt in section 7 to claim exemption from federal withholding taxes if you meet the criteria specified on the form.
  3. Then scroll down to complete the California State DE-4 Form:
    • Select your filing status.
    • Enter the number of allowances in section 1.


    • Note:  For help in determining your state withholding allowances, click DE-4 Instructions and Worksheet link on top of the online form.

    • Enter any additional amount you want withheld from each paycheck in section 2.
    • Or check the box next to Exempt in section 3 to claim exemption from state withholding taxes if you meet the criteria specified on the form.
  4. Click Print Forms if you wish to print a copy of your entries for your records.
  5. Click Submit Online button when all entries are complete.
Note:  Please wait 24 hours for your changes to take effect. If you submit two or more changes in a day, only your latest submission will be updated.

step 5

To change your current withholding allowances:

  1. Update information as required on the federal W-4 Form.
  2. Update information as required on the state DE-4 Form.


  3. Note:  For help in determining your withholding allowances, click the W-4 and DE-4 Instructions and Worksheet links on top of the online forms.

  4. Click Print Forms if you wish to print a copy of your entries for your records.
  5. Click Submit Online button when all updates are complete.
Note:  Please wait 24 hours for your changes to take effect. If you submit two or more changes in a day, only your latest submission will be updated.

step 6

To print a copy of your current withholding allowances:

  1. Scroll down to the bottom of the DE-4 Form and click Print Forms button.


  2. Note:  Use caution when printing the Form to a public printer as it contains your Social Security Number.
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For Non-Resident Alien Employees (5 steps)

step 1

Launch Stanford's Axess web site:

  1. Click https://axess.stanford.edu/.
  2. Click Login button in Personal Login section.
  3. Enter your SUNet ID and password as prompted.
  4. Click the link on the Web Authentication window to continue.
step 2

Select Employee Information tab (this page defaults for most users when you first log in to Axess):

  • Click Edit W4 and DE4 Information link (found under Financial Information section in the upper left section of the page)
  • Click the link on the Web Authentication window to continue
step 3

Complete Employee's Tax Data Form:

  1. Click No button under the question Are you a US Citizen or a Green Card Holder? to open the Employee's Tax Data Form.

  2. Complete Page 1 of the Form:


  3. Note:  Name and Social Security Number (when applicable) fields are pre-populated.

    • Enter your Country of Citizenship.
    • Enter your Country of Residence.
    • Enter your Current Visa Type and #.
    • Enter your most recent Entry Date.
    • List entry and exit dates of all stays in the U.S. during the last six years (including Visa Type).
  4. Click Print Form (Page 1 of 2) button to print page 1 of the Form.


  5. Note:  Use caution when printing the Form to a public printer as it contains your Social Security Number.

  6. Click Continue button to go to page 2.
  7. Complete the Federal W-4 on Page 2 of the Form:
    • Select your filing status in section 3.
    • Enter the total number of allowances you wish to claim in section 5.


    • Note:  Non-Resident Aliens are limited to one withholding allowance and single marital status on the Federal W-4, with the exception of residents of Canada, Mexico and Korea.

    • Type Non-Resident Alien in section 6.
  8. Then scroll down to complete the California State DE-4 Form:
    • Select your filing status.
    • Enter the number of allowances you wish to claim in section 1.
    • Enter any additional amount you want withheld from each paycheck in section 2.
  9. Click Print Form (Page 2 of 2) button to print page 2 of the Form.


  10. Note:  Use caution when printing the Form to a public printer as it contains your Social Security Number.
step 4

Sign and date all sections of the Form.

step 5

Mail the completed Form to:

Stanford Payroll
3145 Porter Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304

~ OR ~

ID Mail to MC 8440

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What Happens Next?

  • Information submitted / received by 5 PM PST on the 15th of each month will be reflected on paychecks issued on the 22nd.
  • Information submitted / received by 5 PM PST on the last day of each month will be reflected on paychecks issued on the 7th of the following month.

Questions?

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