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October 10, 2022
2022-1526

District of Columbia withholding instructions and tables do not currently reflect tax increases that were effective January 1, 2022

  • The District of Columbia’s Office of Tax and Revenue has confirmed that although its latest income tax withholding instructions and tables were published in 2018, employers nonetheless are responsible for taking 2022 law changes into account when withholding income tax.
  • A change in law, effective January 1, 2022, increased D.C. income taxes for individuals earning more than $250,000.
  • Businesses should note that the increase in the highest tax rate (from 8.95% to 10.75%) also applies to withholdings on lump-sum pension distributions.

The District of Columbia's Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) has clarified through discussions that although FR-230, Income Tax Withholding Instructions and Tables was last updated in 2018, employers are responsible for withholding income tax according to the changes effective January 1, 2022 under Act 24-0176 (The Income Tax Fairness Amendment Act of 2021, p. 211). The Act increased the top tax rate from 8.95% to 10.75% on income over $1 million and adjusted the wage brackets. The OTR confirmed that it has not yet updated FR-230 to reflect changes under the Act but employers, nonetheless, will be liable for any underwithholding that is the result of using the most current FR-230 (rev. 2018) on its website. (Telephone conversation, OTR, 10-6-2022.)

Businesses should note that the change in the highest tax rate also applies to withholdings on lump-sum pension distributions, which, effective January 1, 2022, are subject to a tax rate of 10.75% rather than 8.95%. (OTR Tax Notice 2012-02.)

Background

On September 27, 2021, D.C. Mayor Muriel Browser signed into law Act 24-0176, which included a measure that, effective January 1, 2022, raised the top income tax rate from 9.75% to 10.75% on income over $1 million and adjusted the wage brackets such that tax increases apply to individuals earning more than $250,000.

On September 2, 2022, the OTR issued a notice on its website that includes the tax rate schedule that applies for tax year 2022. The 2022 tax rate schedule was also posted to the OTR's Individual and Fiduciary Income Tax page; however, as previously mentioned, as of the date of this Alert, the withholding instructions and tables were last updated in 2018.

On the following page is a comparison of the tax rate schedules contained in the 2018 FR-230 and the tax rate schedule that applies effective January 1, 2022 under Act 24-0176.

District of Columbia tax rates effective January 1, 2022

If the taxable income is:

The tax is:

Not over $10,000

4% of the taxable income

Over $10,000 but not over $40,000

$400, plus 6% of the excess over $10,000

Over $40,000 but not over $60,000

$2,200, plus 6.5% of the excess over $40,000

Over $60,000 but not over $250,000

$3,500, plus 8.5% of the excess over $60,000

Over $250,000 but not over $500,000

$19,650, plus 9.25% of the excess over $250,000

Over $500,000 but not over $1,000,000

$42,775, plus 9.75% of the excess above $500,000

Over $1,000,000

$91,525, plus 10.75% of the excess above $1,000,000

District of Columbia tax rates in the 2018 revision of FR-230 (effective 2016—2021)

If the taxable income is:

The tax is:

Not over $10,000

4% of the taxable income

Over $10,000 but not over $40,000

$400, plus 6% of the excess over $10,000

Over $40,000 but not over $60,000

$2,200, plus 6.5% of the excess over $40,000

Over $60,000 but not over $350,000

$3,500, plus 8.5% of the excess over $60,000

Over $350,000 but not over $1,000,000

$28,150, plus 8.75% of the excess above $350,000

Over $1,000,000

$85,025, plus 8.95% of the excess above $1,000,000

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Contact Information
For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:
 
Workforce Tax Services - Employment Tax Advisory Services
   • Kristie Lowery (kristie.lowery@ey.com)
   • Kenneth Hausser (kenneth.hausser@ey.com)
   • Debera Salam (debera.salam@ey.com)

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