Fill IT-2104 – Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate

Q: Who should file Form IT-2104 with an employer?

Employees who live or work in New York State typically complete Form IT-2104 and give it to their employer so state and local income tax withholding can be set correctly. People often file IT-2104 when they start a new job, when their marital status or number of dependents changes, or when they move into or out of New York City or Yonkers. Filing a new IT-2104 can also be useful if you owed tax or received a large refund on your last New York State return.

Q: Is IT-2104 the same as federal Form W-4?

No. Federal Form W-4 is used to set your federal income tax withholding with the IRS, while Form IT-2104 is used to set your New York State, New York City, and Yonkers withholding with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Because federal and state rules differ, the allowances or adjustments that make sense on your W-4 may not match what you need on IT-2104. The instructions for IT-2104 explain how to use the state worksheet to estimate allowances for New York.

Q: Can I use Form IT-2104 to claim exemption from New York withholding?

Form IT-2104 itself is not used to claim exemption from New York State income tax withholding. To claim exemption, New York provides separate forms such as IT-2104-E, IT-2104-IND, or IT-2104-MS, depending on your situation. The IT-2104 instructions explain that if you qualify for an exemption, you should file the appropriate exemption certificate with your employer instead of only adjusting allowances on IT-2104.

Q: How often should I update my New York Form IT-2104?

Many employees update Form IT-2104 when their personal or financial situation changes in ways that affect withholding. Common reasons include getting married or divorced, gaining or losing dependents, moving into or out of New York City or Yonkers, or having significant changes in income. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance recommends reviewing your withholding each year, because tax law changes can affect the amount of tax you owe even if nothing else changes.

Q: Does this site store my IT-2104 details?

No. This page is designed so that the information you enter to fill Form IT-2104 stays in your browser on your own device while you work. The filled PDF is generated locally and is not stored on a server or in a database. This approach is intended to help keep your personal and payroll information private while still letting you fill the official New York State form.

Q: Where can I get the official instructions for Form IT-2104?

The official instructions for New York State Form IT-2104 are published by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. They are available on the Tax Department’s website on the IT-2104-I instructions page. Those instructions provide detailed guidance for using the worksheets, understanding the allowance system, and deciding when to adjust your withholding amounts.

Q: Where can I download a blank copy of IT-2104?

You can download the current fill-in PDF for Form IT-2104 directly from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website. The Tax Department publishes the Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate for each year, including the 2025 IT-2104 used on this page. Employers may also provide a link or a paper copy of the same official form when they onboard new employees.

Latest revision: 2025

Used by New York employees to tell their employer how much New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax to withhold from their pay.

Agency: NY Department of Taxation and Finance · Category: state

For your safety and privacy, everything you enter stays on your device. Nothing is sent to any server.

Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate

Employee information

First name and middle initial *

Enter your first name and middle initial exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.

Last name *

Enter your last name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.

Your Social Security number *

Enter your nine-digit Social Security number. This is used to match your withholding to your New York income tax return.

Permanent home address (number and street or rural route) *

Enter your permanent home address, including number and street or rural route.

Apartment number

If applicable, enter your apartment or unit number.

City, village, or post office *

Enter the city, village, or post office of your permanent home address.

State *

Enter the two-letter state abbreviation for your permanent home address.

ZIP code *

Enter your 5-digit ZIP code (and 4-digit extension, if applicable).

Filing status and residency

8. Filing status *

Single or Head of householdMarriedMarried, but withhold at higher single rate

Select your filing status as it will appear on your New York income tax return. If you are married but legally separated, select Single or Head of household.

Are you a resident of New York City?

Check this box if you are a resident of New York City (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island). This affects New York City withholding.

Are you a resident of Yonkers?

Check this box if you are a resident of Yonkers. This affects Yonkers withholding.

Withholding allowances and additional withholding

1. Total number of allowances for New York State and Yonkers *

Enter the total number of allowances you are claiming for New York State and Yonkers, if applicable (from line 19 of the worksheet, if you used it).

2. Total number of allowances for New York City *

Enter the total number of allowances you are claiming for New York City (from line 31 of the worksheet, if you used it).

3. New York State additional withholding per pay period

Enter any additional dollar amount you want withheld from each paycheck for New York State income tax. Leave this line blank if you do not want extra state withholding.

4. New York City additional withholding per pay period

Enter any additional dollar amount you want withheld from each paycheck for New York City income tax. Leave this line blank if you do not want extra New York City withholding.

5. Yonkers additional withholding per pay period

Enter any additional dollar amount you want withheld from each paycheck for Yonkers income tax. Leave this line blank if you do not want extra Yonkers withholding.

Employee certification

Date *

Enter the date you sign this certificate. By signing, you certify that you are entitled to the number of withholding allowances claimed on this form.

For your safety and privacy, everything you enter stays on your device. Nothing is sent to any server.

Who this page is for

This page helps employees who need to complete New York State Form IT-2104, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, so that their employer can withhold New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax from their pay. It is designed for workers who want a simple, browser-based way to fill the official IT-2104 PDF without creating an account. Employers and payroll teams may also use this tool to help new hires complete the form more clearly before it is saved in their records.

What is Form IT-2104?

Form IT-2104, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, is a New York State form used to tell your employer how much New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax to withhold from your wages. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance explains that IT-2104 works together with your employer’s withholding tables so the tax withheld during the year more closely matches the actual tax you owe when you file your New York return. The more allowances you claim, the lower the amount of tax is generally withheld from each paycheck.

Used by New York employees to tell their employer how much New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax to withhold from their pay.

In many cases, you give IT-2104 to your employer when you start a new job, when your marital status or number of dependents changes, or when you move into or out of New York City or Yonkers. Unlike federal Form W-4, which now no longer uses allowances in the same way, IT-2104 still uses an allowance system and a worksheet in the instructions to help you estimate the right number for New York State purposes.

On this page you fill the official New York State IT-2104 (current 2025 version) in a browser-friendly way and then download the completed PDF to sign and give to your employer. The information you enter here is only used to fill the PDF on your device.

Example situations where someone may request Form IT-2104

Employers and payroll departments request Form IT-2104 in many ordinary situations involving New York State and local income tax withholding. Examples include:

Starting a new job in New York State, especially when the employer needs your filing status and allowances to set up state and city withholding.
Moving into or out of New York City or Yonkers, where local income tax withholding applies in addition to New York State tax.
Experiencing a change in marital status or number of dependents that could affect the number of allowances you are entitled to claim.
Noticing that you have owed New York State tax or received a large refund for several years in a row and deciding, with the help of the worksheet or a professional, to adjust your withholding.
Working multiple jobs or having other income where your employer suggests completing a new IT-2104 to better match overall withholding to your combined income.

These examples are general and based on typical uses of Form IT-2104 under New York withholding rules. They do not replace the official instructions or any advice from your employer, payroll department, or a tax professional.

How to fill Form IT-2104

The on-page helper text next to each field walks you through the details of New York Form IT-2104. The summary below shows how the main lines of the certificate map to the questions above, so you can review each section before you download your filled IT-2104 PDF. You can also keep the official instructions open while you fill the form and use this summary as a quick guide.

Employee information

First name and middle initial
Enter your first name and middle initial exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.
Last name
Enter your last name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.
Your Social Security number
Enter your nine-digit Social Security number. This is used to match your withholding to your New York income tax return.
Permanent home address (number and street or rural route)
Enter your permanent home address, including number and street or rural route.
Apartment number
If applicable, enter your apartment or unit number.
City, village, or post office
Enter the city, village, or post office of your permanent home address.
State
Enter the two-letter state abbreviation for your permanent home address.
ZIP code
Enter your 5-digit ZIP code (and 4-digit extension, if applicable).

Filing status and residency

8. Filing status
Select your filing status as it will appear on your New York income tax return. If you are married but legally separated, select Single or Head of household.
Are you a resident of New York City?
Check this box if you are a resident of New York City (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island). This affects New York City withholding.
Are you a resident of Yonkers?
Check this box if you are a resident of Yonkers. This affects Yonkers withholding.

Withholding allowances and additional withholding

1. Total number of allowances for New York State and Yonkers
Enter the total number of allowances you are claiming for New York State and Yonkers, if applicable (from line 19 of the worksheet, if you used it).
2. Total number of allowances for New York City
Enter the total number of allowances you are claiming for New York City (from line 31 of the worksheet, if you used it).
3. New York State additional withholding per pay period
Enter any additional dollar amount you want withheld from each paycheck for New York State income tax. Leave this line blank if you do not want extra state withholding.
4. New York City additional withholding per pay period
Enter any additional dollar amount you want withheld from each paycheck for New York City income tax. Leave this line blank if you do not want extra New York City withholding.
5. Yonkers additional withholding per pay period
Enter any additional dollar amount you want withheld from each paycheck for Yonkers income tax. Leave this line blank if you do not want extra Yonkers withholding.

Employee certification

Date
Enter the date you sign this certificate. By signing, you certify that you are entitled to the number of withholding allowances claimed on this form.

After reviewing your entries, download the filled PDF, sign it where required, and give it to your employer according to their onboarding or payroll procedures. Employers usually keep the certificate with their records rather than sending it with your New York State tax return.

Common mistakes on Form IT-2104

Using federal Form W-4 alone and assuming it will automatically produce the right New York State, New York City, and Yonkers withholding without filing IT-2104 when your employer asks for it.
Not updating IT-2104 after a major change, such as marriage, divorce, moving into or out of New York City or Yonkers, or adding or losing dependents.
Claiming allowances that do not match your situation when you have not worked through the worksheet in the instructions, which can lead to under-withholding or over-withholding.
Leaving lines 3, 4, or 5 blank when you intend to have additional New York State, New York City, or Yonkers tax withheld under a special agreement with your employer.
Forgetting to sign and date the certificate, even though the form states that you certify you are entitled to the number of allowances claimed.
Not filing a new IT-2104 after you notice that you consistently owe New York State tax or receive a very large refund, even though adjusting your allowances or additional withholding could bring your withholding closer to the final amount.

When Form IT-2104 is usually not used

Form IT-2104 is widely used for New York State payroll withholding, but there are situations where other forms usually apply instead:

Claiming exemption from New York withholding: New York provides separate exemption certificates such as Form IT-2104-E, IT-2104-IND, IT-2104-MS, or IT-2104-SNY, rather than using IT-2104 alone.
Nonresident allocation or nonresidence situations that call for Form IT-2104.1 to allocate wages between New York and other locations.
Federal withholding: federal Form W-4 is still the main certificate for federal income tax withholding with the Internal Revenue Service, separate from the New York IT-2104.
Situations where you are not an employee subject to payroll withholding at all, such as certain independent contractor arrangements that use 1099 reporting instead of wage withholding.

These are broad distinctions based on New York forms. Your employer and the official instructions from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance ultimately determine which form is appropriate in a particular situation.

Where to find the official instructions for Form IT-2104

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance publishes the official instructions for Form IT-2104 on its website. You can read them on the IT-2104-I instructions page, which explains how to use the worksheets, how allowances work, and what to consider when you have multiple jobs or itemized deductions. This page is only a helper for filling the official PDF and does not replace those instructions.

If you are unsure how many allowances to claim or whether to enter additional withholding on lines 3, 4, or 5, you can review the IT-2104 instructions or consult a qualified tax professional. Employers may also point employees to these instructions as part of their onboarding materials.

Where to get a blank or replacement Form IT-2104

If you need a blank IT-2104, you can download the current fill-in Form IT-2104 PDF directly from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. This page uses that same official PDF and simply provides a browser-based way to fill it before you print, sign, and give it to your employer. Employers often include a copy or link as part of their onboarding packets.

If a certificate you previously filed no longer reflects your situation, you can complete a new IT-2104 and submit it to your employer so they can update their payroll records. Some employees keep a copy of their completed form in their personal files so it is easier to review their allowances the next time a change is needed.

Glossary of key terms on Form IT-2104

Withholding allowance: A withholding allowance on IT-2104 is a value used by your employer, together with New York withholding tables, to estimate how much tax to take out of each paycheck. The number of allowances is based on factors such as your filing status, dependents, and certain deductions or credits you expect to claim.
Additional withholding: Additional withholding refers to the extra dollar amount you ask your employer to withhold from each paycheck on lines 3, 4, or 5 of Form IT-2104. Some employees choose an additional amount to help cover other income, to reduce the chance of owing tax at year-end, or as part of a budgeting approach.
New York City resident: For IT-2104 purposes, a New York City resident generally lives in one of the five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island. Residents of New York City may be subject to New York City personal income tax in addition to New York State tax, so the certificate includes a box specifically for NYC residency.
Yonkers resident: A Yonkers resident lives in the City of Yonkers and may be subject to Yonkers income tax surcharges in addition to New York State tax. IT-2104 includes a question about Yonkers residency so your employer can apply the correct local withholding rules if they apply.

Security best practices when sharing a completed IT-2104

A completed IT-2104 contains personal information, including your name, address, and Social Security number, so employers and employees may want to consider basic security practices when exchanging the form. Some organizations now use secure upload portals, HR systems, or encrypted email solutions rather than relying on plain-text email attachments. The goal is to keep sensitive payroll and identification data from being exposed unnecessarily.

Check whether your employer offers a secure onboarding or self-service portal where you can upload your signed IT-2104 directly into their HR system.
Avoid sending sensitive documents through unencrypted channels when a more secure option is available, such as an HR portal, encrypted email, or hand delivery.
Store any saved copies of your IT-2104 in a safe place, whether in a locked file cabinet or a secure digital storage solution.
Confirm that any request for your withholding forms is legitimate and actually comes from your employer or payroll provider before you share personal information.

These are general security considerations. Always follow your employer’s procedures and any guidance from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance regarding handling of payroll documents.

Common questions people also ask about Form IT-2104

Why does my employer ask me to fill out IT-2104? Employers use New York Form IT-2104 to set up the correct amount of New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax withholding from your pay. Without an up-to-date certificate, withholding may not match your situation and could lead to a balance due or a large refund when you file your New York tax return.
Is IT-2104 only for New York residents? Many New York residents use IT-2104, but employees who work in New York and live elsewhere may also complete the form depending on their situation. The instructions discuss how residency, nonresidency, and allocation forms like IT-2104.1 can affect withholding, and employers or tax professionals can help interpret those rules.
What if I make a mistake on my IT-2104? If you discover that your allowances or additional withholding amounts are not what you intended, you can complete a new IT-2104 and give it to your employer. They can update their payroll system going forward, and you can adjust again later if your circumstances change.

FAQ about Form IT-2104

What is New York State Form IT-2104 used for?

New York State Form IT-2104, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, is used to tell your employer how much New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax to withhold from your pay. It works together with your employer’s withholding tables so that the tax withheld during the year is closer to the amount you owe when you file your New York return. The number of allowances you claim and any additional withholding amounts you enter can increase or decrease how much tax is taken out of each paycheck.

Who should file Form IT-2104 with an employer?

Employees who are paid wages that are subject to New York State withholding usually complete Form IT-2104 and give it to their employer. This includes many people who live or work in New York State, and especially those who live in New York City or Yonkers. New hires commonly fill IT-2104 when they start work, and current employees sometimes file a new certificate after major life changes or after reviewing their most recent tax return.

Is IT-2104 the same as federal Form W-4?

No. Federal Form W-4 is the withholding certificate for federal income tax with the Internal Revenue Service, while IT-2104 is specifically for New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax withholding. Because federal and state laws differ, the allowances or adjustments that make sense on one form may not be right for the other. The New York instructions suggest using the IT-2104 worksheet and your own situation to determine the allowances you claim on this state form.

Can I use Form IT-2104 to claim exemption from New York withholding?

Form IT-2104 itself is not intended to be the main exemption certificate. Instead, New York provides separate forms such as IT-2104-E, IT-2104-IND, and IT-2104-MS for people who qualify for specific exemptions from withholding. If you believe you may qualify for an exemption, the instructions recommend reviewing those forms or consulting a tax professional rather than relying only on changes to your IT-2104 allowances.

How often should I update my New York Form IT-2104?

Many employees update IT-2104 when their personal or financial circumstances change in ways that affect withholding, such as changes in marital status, dependents, residency, or income levels. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance also suggests reviewing your withholding each year because tax law and your situation may shift over time. Filing a new IT-2104 with your employer is how you adjust your New York State and local withholding going forward.

Does this site store my IT-2104 details?

No. This page is built so that the IT-2104 helper runs entirely in your browser. The information you enter is used to generate a filled PDF on your device and is not stored on our servers or in a shared database. Once you close the page or download the file, your entries are not retained here, which can help protect your personal and payroll information.

What happens if my IT-2104 withholding is wrong?

If your allowances or additional withholding amounts on IT-2104 do not match your actual situation, you may have too much or too little New York tax withheld during the year. That can show up as a larger refund or a balance due when you file your New York personal income tax return. The IT-2104 instructions note that if you find your withholding is off, you can complete a new certificate and submit it to your employer to adjust withholding on future paychecks.

Where can I get the official instructions for Form IT-2104?

The official instructions are available on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website on the IT-2104-I page. Those instructions give a detailed explanation of the worksheets, examples of how allowances work, and information about related forms such as IT-2104-E and IT-2104.1. This site is only a tool to help you fill the PDF and does not replace the official instructions from the Tax Department.

Where can I download a blank copy of IT-2104?

You can download the current fill-in IT-2104 PDF directly from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website. This page uses that same official form and simply provides a way to complete it in your browser before printing or saving it. Employers often share the link or include a paper copy when they hire new employees or run periodic withholding reviews.

Important disclaimer

This site is not affiliated with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance or any government agency. It provides a private tool that helps you fill the official New York State PDF in your browser. The information on this page is general and does not replace the official instructions or professional advice. Always review your completed form and follow your employer’s procedures and any guidance from the Tax Department or a qualified advisor.