I was an employee of a large financial company. I properly filled out my W-4 and was satisfied with the way payroll taxes had been withdrawn. Sometime in the fall I have been laid off and furnished with some severance pay (less taxes).
At the last working day of the year, the company transferred some of the already withdrawn income taxes, in order to make up for under-withdrawn Social Security taxes. I learned about it the hard way: my tax preparer shown me his calculations on penalties I owed to both US and my State. When I contacted the company, they studied all my proofs and agreed with the reason I paid penalties.
However, in spite of them being behind in tax withdrawing, compared to the IRS and our state Revenue Dept. directives, the decision made by the head of Corporate Audit was not to compensate me for those penalties and extra work done by my preparer. The reason given to me: I am ultimately responsible for paying my income taxes.
The amount in question was within $400. If I were to litigate, I would add the cost of my time to prepare all the materials for my former employer ? but I am not eager to do it. I have not petitioned IRS on returning the penalties to me and charging my x-employer either. I am wondering if there is another practical leverage, if any, in my case.
I understand that the total I owed in both types of the taxes would not change. The issue is who is liable for penalties if W-4 was not correctly followed.