re: Anyone notice a difference in their tax refund/payment this year?

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The number on your W-4 has nothing to do with dependents.

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Well actually, yes it does.

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D Enter number of dependents (other than your spouse or yourself) you will claim on your tax return . . . . . . . . D _____

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LINK

I mean, maybe we're talking semantics here, but if you're going by the worksheet on the W4, then yes, dependents are what create "allowances" (assuming you choose to invoke them on your W4, which I do). Those allowances lessen the tax withholding on each check which you balance out when you file your taxes and claim the corresponding number of dependents. And what I'm wondering is, since I'm already lessening my tax deductions on my checks by claiming child allowances, if that may be why the new tax rates aren't having a huge effect on my paychecks?

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IRS releases the following table. LINK

Your employer is supposed to follow it

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Okay, this I understand. But do know, they DO NOT all follow that to a 'T'. Can promise you that. I happen to know that my wife's employer does not and that they withhold at a higher rate than they are supposed to. My question is, what is the motivation for employers who don't follow that by the line? Does what they withhold go into an interest-bearing holding account until they pay their tax bill and they do this knowing that you're going to get any overages back when you file? I'm just guessing here. What are your thoughts?