Withholding on Unemployment Income

[free_fries]

When all is said and done my estimated 2016 taxable income will look like this:

Unemployment income of $6,640
+Ordinary Income of $39,885 ($57,885 less $18,000 in 403(b) contributions)
+$177 interest income 
= $46,702

My rough calculations came to about $4,900 for 2016 federal taxes.  I live in WA - no state income tax.  I plan to fill out my W-4 to have my withholding on my paychecks total approximately that amount when I start.

So for the first few months of the year, I've been getting unemployment.  I did NOT have 10% withheld because I figured once I was back at work I could pay enough out of those larger paychecks to be square for the year. 

Are my assumptions correct?  I will get two more unemployment checks before I go back to work. I can have 10% withheld from them if having $0 withheld from my unemployment triggers a penalty.  I've tried getting to the bottom of it but can't find a clear cut answer.

[georgicus]

With just two checks to go, I wouldn't change it.

The 10% withholding seems excessive.  That's about double what you really need withheld, at a time when you need cash the most.  They way you are going to compensate for underwithholding seems right to me.

[MDM]

My rough calculations came to about $4,900 for 2016 federal taxes.  I live in WA - no state income tax.  I plan to fill out my W-4 to have my withholding on my paychecks total approximately that amount when I start.

Excellent plan - no need to add anything.  And congratulations on the new job!