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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>372412</law_id><section_number>58.1-470</section_number><catch_line>Withholding exemption certificates</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="125" identifier="58.1">Taxation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="I">Taxes Administered by the Department of Taxation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="3" identifier="3">Income Tax</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="15" identifier="16">Income Tax Withholding</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> An <span class="dictionary">employee</span> receiving <span class="dictionary">wages</span> shall be entitled to the exemptions for which such <span class="dictionary">employee</span> qualifies under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the United States relating to federal income taxes. <a id="paragraph-1388784" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-470/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">employee</span> shall at the time of commencing employment furnish his <span class="dictionary">employer</span> with a signed withholding exemption certificate relating to the withholding exemptions which he claims, which in no event shall exceed the sum of exemptions to which he is entitled. <a id="paragraph-1388785" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-470/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Withholding exemption certificates shall take effect as of the beginning of the first <span class="dictionary">payroll period</span> ending, or the first payment of <span class="dictionary">wages</span> made without regard to a <span class="dictionary">payroll period</span>, on or after the date on which such certificate is so furnished, provided that certificates furnished before January 1, 1983, shall be considered as furnished on that date. <a id="paragraph-1388786" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-470/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A withholding exemption certificate which takes effect under this section shall continue in effect with respect to the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> until another such certificate takes effect under this section. If a withholding exemption certificate is furnished to take the place of an existing certificate, the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> at his option may continue the old certificate in force with respect to all <span class="dictionary">wages</span> paid on or before the first status determination date, January 1 or July 1, which occurs at least thirty days after the date on which such new certificate is furnished. <a id="paragraph-1388787" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-470/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> If, on any day during the calendar year, the sum of withholding exemptions to which the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> will be, or may reasonably be expected to be, entitled at the beginning of his next taxable year is different from the sum of exemptions to which the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> is entitled on such day, the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> shall in such cases and at such times as the <span class="dictionary">Tax Commissioner</span> may prescribe, furnish the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> with a withholding exemption certificate relating to the exemptions which he claims with respect to such next taxable year, which shall in no event exceed the sum of exemptions to which he will be, or may reasonably be expected to be, so entitled. Exemption certificates furnished pursuant to this subsection shall not take effect with respect to any payment of <span class="dictionary">wages</span> made in the calendar year in which the certificate is furnished. <a id="paragraph-1388788" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-470/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> If, on any day during the calendar year, the sum of withholding exemptions to which the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> is entitled is less than the sum of withholding exemptions claimed by the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> on the withholding exemption certificate then in effect with respect to him, the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> shall, within ten days thereafter, furnish the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> with a new withholding exemption certificate relating to the withholding exemptions which the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> then claims, which shall in no event exceed the sum of exemptions to which he is entitled on such day. If, on any day during the calendar year, the sum of withholding exemptions to which the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> is entitled is greater than the sum of withholding exemptions claimed, the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> may furnish the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> with a new withholding exemption certificate relating to the withholding exemptions which the <span class="dictionary">employee</span> then claims, which shall in no event exceed the sum of exemptions to which he is entitled on such day. <a id="paragraph-1388789" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-470/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> Withholding exemption certificates shall be in such form and contain such information as the <span class="dictionary">Tax Commissioner</span> may prescribe. <a id="paragraph-1388790" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-470/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 58-151.11; 1962, c. 612; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 171; 1984, c. 675.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
