Tax Form Resource - Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association (SCERA)

Sep 19, 2026

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Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association (SCERA) provides guidance on how to complete tax forms used to withhold income taxes from SCERA pension benefits. SCERA states it cannot offer tax advice and directs members to tax professionals for elections on the forms. It can only withhold federal taxes via IRS Form W-4P and California taxes via DE-4P. The resource explains when to file for no withholding, withholding by filing status, and additional or flat withholding amounts, emphasizing that forms must be manually signed and dated and corrected if instructions are not followed.

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CategoryForms

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Pages2

Reading Time1 min

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Federal Tax Form W-4P Instructions

No Withholding

Withholding Using Filing Status

Filing Status Plus Steps 2-4

California State Tax Form DE-4P Instructions

No Withholding

Withholding Using Only Filing Status

Filing Status Plus Additional Amount

Withholding Using Only a Flat Amount

Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association (SCERA) cannot provide tax advice. Please consulta tax professional for questions regarding what to elect on the tax forms below. SCERA’s Tax Form Resource is to provide guidance on the tax forms below which should be completed based on the different ways you elect to have income taxes withheld from your SCERA pension. SCERA is only able to withhold income taxes for: Federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on form W-4P and the State of California on form DE-4P. You should always submit a manually signed tax form to SCERA so that we know what, if anything, to withhold from your taxable benefit. If you have taxable benefit and no form is submitted or the form is incorrect, we will withhold at the required default rate per the IRS and California. IRS W-4P: Single California DE-4P: Single, 0 allowances Federal Tax Form W-4P Instructions: For more information on the Federal W-4P please visit: [https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15t.pdf](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15t.pdf). You MUST manually sign and date your W-4P in Step 5 for it to be valid. A. For No Withholding: 1. Only complete steps 1a and 1b. Do not complete Step 1c. If you complete step 1c, the form must be corrected. 2. In the “No Withholding” section below Step 4, check the box for No Withholding (in the space below Step 4(c)) . B. To have taxes withheld using a filing status: 1. You must complete all of step 1. C. To have taxes withheld using a filing status plus steps 2-4: 1. You must complete all of step 1. 2. Step 2 – Part b, optional i. If completed, all of the lines must be populated in (i) or (ii) . Line (iii) must have the TOTAL populated. If your amounts do not add up, your form must be corrected 3. Step 3, optional i. If completed, all of the lines must be populated and the TOTAL line must be completed. If your amounts do not add up, your form must be corrected. 4. Step 4, optional i. If completed, complete only those lines that apply. California State Tax Form DE-4P Instructions: For more information on the California DE-4P please visit: [https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/pdf_pub_ctr/26methb.pdf](https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/pdf_pub_ctr/26methb.pdf). You MUST manually sign and date your DE-4P below Line 4 for it to be valid. A. For No Withholding: 1. You must complete personal information. 2. You must mark the box on line 1. 3. You CANNOT complete items 2-4. If you populate lines 2-4, your form must be corrected. B. To have taxes withheld using only filing status: 1. You must complete personal information. 2. Mark only one filing status on line 2a (i.e. Single; Married; Head of Household) . 3. You must complete all lines 2b-2d. 4. You CANNOT complete line 3 and 4. C. To have taxes withheld using a filing status plus an additional amount: 1. You must complete personal information. 2. Mark only one filing status on line 2a (i.e. Single; Married; Head of Household) . 3. You must complete all lines 2b-2d. 4. Include an additional withholding amount on Line 3 (this is an additional amount above the calculated tax) . 5. You CANNOT complete line 4. D. To have taxes withheld using only a flat amount: 1. You must complete personal information. 2. You CANNOT complete step 2 or 3. 3. Include a flat withholding amount on Line 4.

FAQs

Can SCERA provide tax advice about these tax forms?

No. SCERA cannot provide tax advice and recommends consulting a tax professional for questions about what to elect on the tax forms.

Which tax withholding forms does SCERA accept for retirement pension withholding?

SCERA can withhold federal income tax using IRS Form W-4P and California income tax using California Form DE-4P.

What happens if no tax form is submitted or the form is incorrect?

If a taxable benefit exists and no form is submitted or the form is incorrect, SCERA will withhold at the required default rate per the IRS and California.

Sep 19, 2026

Upload by Adam