Every year about this time, people who might otherwise be prone to procrastination rush to do their taxes.

They want to get their refund as fast as they can. But getting a refund is often a signal that you are having too much money taken out of your paycheck.

That’s not a good thing. Your goal should be to owe a very tiny amount of tax or get a small refund.

And how do you do that?

Adjust your Form W-4 – Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate.

During a recent online chat, a Maryland reader asked: “I am married with an investment property. I will be filing married jointly. My salary is $75,000. I was wondering how many exemptions would put me in a better overall financial situation. This is because I heard that if you add more exemptions, with the interest I pay on my investment home and primary home, I will not be taxed heavily throughout the year.”

As a wage earner, you are required to pay federal income tax by having it withheld from your pay throughout the year. This is your “withholding,” which is based on the number of allowances you claim on your W-4.

If your tax situation changes – you get married, have a child, buy a home – you should fill out a new form because accounting for each those situations could result in more money in your paycheck. You should try to have your withholding match your actual tax liability.

So the Maryland reader is on the right track. He knows he has to adjust his tax withholding. But only he knows the information to determine how many allowances to take, which is based on the itemized tax deductions or credits he expects to claim on his return.

You can adjust your withholding by using a worksheet on the W-4. But surely you wouldn’t be surprised if I said it is a little daunting. Instead, I would recommend you use the IRS online withholding calculator at www.irs.gov. In the search box, type “withholding calculator.” You will need your most recent pay stub, a copy of last year’s tax return and any information about deductions or credits you expect to take. Once you’ve answered a series of questions, the calculator will suggest a recommended number of allowances you should put down on your W-4.