<prompt> Human: Hi PF!Ive seen here and elsewhere that electing 0 allowances in a W4 essentially gives the government a 0 interest loan, but results in a bigger return in April for the individual. First question - please help me understand why there seems to be a stigma around this?Issue At Hand:I currently have 0 allowances in my W4. Id like more cash in my paycheck expenses are adding up but I also LOVE getting a big return to send straight to my high interest student loan other debt. This year my return will be over 4800 straight to loans and investments. Is there a better way to approach? Should I select 1 allowance? Or if I want more cash is it LEGAL for me to select more than 1? Why? Please ELI5Stats:63K salary6 401KDental and vision 20 paycheck Paid biweekly Single no kidsOne jobNo mortgage etcI do pay student loans and interest towards them Any perspective would be appreciated!  <response>: The idea behind this is that the 4,800 you receive back from the IRS when you file your tax return is money you would have earned throughout the year instead if you had withheld correctly. Every month you paid the IRS 400 more than you needed to for federal income taxes, so now theyre giving it back to you. Instead, you couldve used that 400 to throw at your student loans throughout the year saving you interest, contributing to retirement accounts making your financial future more secure and growing more steadily, or saving for a big future expense.By getting your W-4 filled out as accurately as possible, you are maximizing the amount of money you receive per paycheck, and as a consequence minimizing the amount you will receive as a refund from the IRS or owe to them when you file your tax return.Now, for some people, if they had an extra 400month, they wouldnt spend it wisely like they would if they got a 4,800 tax refund at the end of the year. So for these people, its no skin off my back what they choose to do. However, it seems like you want to take good financial steps with this money, so adjust your W-4 to get that money now instead of next April. 