While talking about President Donald Trump’s signature tax breaks, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged workers to update their withholdings to boost paychecks in 2026.

the process can be tricky, and mistakes could trigger a tax bill next filing season, according to tax experts.

Instead, you should review your , on the other hand2025 return and tailor withholdings to your unique situation.

You can also utilize a free tool from the IRS known as the “tax withholding estimator,” which creates an updated Form W-4 for your employer.

After filing your 2025 tax return, there’s plenty of time for 2026 changes that could improve your situation for next season, experts say.

One option could be updating your paycheck withholding — for a bigger or smaller refund — which can be tricky, according to tax experts.   

While talking about President Donald Trump’s signature tax breaks this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated workers should update their withholdings for 2026.

“I want to encourage everyone out there watching today to change their withholding if they haven’t already done so,” he mentioned during a White House press briefing Wednesday.

“If you change your withholding, then you will get an automatic real wage rise … on a weekly or a monthly basis, and you will be able to keep more of your capital this calendar year,” Bessent noted.

But some tax experts have been quick to criticize this advice on social media. The withholding process isn’t simple, and mistakes could result in taxes owed for 2026.

Enacted in July, Trump’s “big beautiful bill” included fresh 2025 deductions for tip income, overtime earnings, seniors and auto loan interest, among other provisions. This also touches on aspects of investors.

But the IRS didn’t update withholding tables for employers, which has contributed to higher tax refunds for many filers this season. As of April 3, the average refund amount for individual filers was $3,462, up from $3,116 about one year ago, according to the agency.

blanket suggestions to change paycheck withholdings could have “negative consequences” during next year’s tax filing season, founder of Alo Financial Planning in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

Paycheck withholdings are “simply estimates” of the year’s total taxes, commented Nowak, who is also a certified public accountant. Furthermore, experts in dividends note the continued relevance.

For , on the other hand2026, you may lower withholdings if your refund was larger than expected, or rise them if you had a balance due. It should also be updated for “changes in income, marital status, according to certified financial planner John Nowak and children,” he noted.

Rather than making “haphazard changes,” consider using the free IRS tax withholding estimator, which provides estimates and an updated Form W-4 for your employer, Nowak mentioned.

The Treasury did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

‘Quick calculation’ for your withholding

Another “quick calculation” to check your 2026 paycheck withholding is by reviewing the “total tax” on line 24 of the second page of your 2025 tax return, a CFP at Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo in Orlando, Florida., according to Tommy Lucas His firm is ranked No. 69 on CNBC’s Financial Advisor 100 list for 2025. 

If your 2026 earnings and tax situation are the same as 2025, your total federal liability should also be similar, he stated. That means you can divide your 2025 total tax by the number of pay periods for 2026 and compare that number to your federal tax withholding for each paycheck.

For many taxpayers, “not much is changing” in 2026 compared with 2025, Lucas commented. One exception is Trump’s charitable deduction of up to $1,000 for single filers or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly who don’t itemize tax breaks.

If you’re not on track for total taxes paid in 2026, you could adjust your paycheck withholdings for the rest of the year, or generate a payment of your shortfall directly to the IRS.