For which scenario can an employer accept an employee's W-4?

An employer can accept an employee's W-4 when the employee does not alter the form because the integrity of the W-4 is crucial for withholding the correct amount of federal income tax from the employee's paycheck. The W-4 specifies the employee's tax situation, such as filing status and the number of allowances claimed. If the employee has made alterations to the W-4, it could lead to discrepancies in tax withholding and create problems for both the employee and the employer. Therefore, a W-4 that is presented without any modifications is valid and can be accepted as it accurately reflects the employee's tax withholding preferences.

In contrast, factors such as an employee's age or duration of employment do not influence the validity of the W-4. Even if an employee is over 65 or has been with the company for an extended period, these aspects do not affect the form's validity. Additionally, while reviewing the W-4 with an accountant may provide clarity or advice for the employee, it does not automatically validate the W-4 unless the form remains unaltered. Thus, the most critical condition for acceptance is that the form remains unchanged.