should a teenager claim exempt on w4

Getting your first job at 16 or 17 is exciting — until HR hands you a W-4 and you have no idea what to write. This plain-English guide walks through every step of the 2026 W-4 for teenagers, explains whether you should claim exempt, who signs it, how much your paycheck will be taxed, and what parents need to know before their teen submits the form.