1. The act of holding back or keeping within your possession or control
   "I resented his withholding permission"; "there were allegations of the withholding of evidence"
    
2. (tax) the act of deducting from an employee's salary
   "The withholding of taxes from her paycheque ensured she wouldn't owe a large sum at year's end"
    
3. Income tax withheld from employees' wages and paid directly to the government by the employer
   "The withholding tax on her paycheque ensures she won't owe a large sum at tax time";
   - withholding tax

1. Hold back; refuse to hand over or share
   "The father is withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room";
   - keep back
    
2. Retain and refrain from disbursing; of payments
   "My employer is withholding taxes";
   - deduct, recoup

Derived forms: withholdings

See also: hold on

Type of: deduction, deny, hold on, holding, income tax, keep, keeping, refuse, retention, subtraction

Encyclopedia: Withholding