<prompt> Human: Hi- I received a significant promotion and raise beginning FY July 1, but the pay increase will be backdated to May 19, the date of my actual promotion. I expect to get the difference after July 1, meaning Ill get one really nice check raise and backpay after the July 1 date. Ive been told I could claim like 10 exemptions just for this check. Is this legal?  <response>: Ive been told I could claim like 10 exemptions just for this check. Is this legal?Its legal, but theres no real point in doing it. The point of claiming excemptions is to get your tax return as close to 0 as possible, if youre just claiming willy nilly you may end up owing tax come April next year, and if you havent had enough withheld you may owe an underpayment penalty. 