If an employee quits or is fired after only working 1 week, do I need to do a w4 and take out taxes?

It depends on whether this same employee worked elsewhere during the same year he/she quit. If not then you will probably not have earned enough to be liable for paying taxes out of your small check (wages).

On the other hand if you re-employed yourself immediately and worked consistantly through out the year then it may be a wise precaution to submit the W4. But if you earned less than approximately $8500. for the year then you will most likely not have to pay much in the way of 'taxes'. Check the poverty lines to be sure.

One way to find out is to 1)check the poverty lines in both the IRS schedule (after deductions) and the state tax (depending on your state (they vary); 2) count up your exemptions (yourself + dependents - these are called standard deductions) substract these amounts from your tax that is listed in the IRS & Franchise Tax schedules and 'viola' there you have it. If you have not paid enough taxes (which I doubt) then you may owe. However, if your tax is less than what has already been taken from your wages (checks) than you will have a refund coming to you. Be sure to check what you've paid by looking at your W2's.

If you're not confused yet, just know that whatever wages you earn throughout the year your employer or several employers will report your 'wages earned' to IRS and Franchise Tax Board. And you will receive all W2's at the beginning of the year.

But there's is no need to panic just yet, you have the whole year to get it figured out. If all else fails, get the short forms/long forms and do mock tax filings (do the work sheets but don't send them in. It practice) and see for yourself.

CAUTION!!
Stop quitting after such a short period. It's far better to have a long tenure than many short employment periods. This could hurt your ability to secure gainful employment in the future. When interviewing employers like to see that potential employees have a consistant work history. That way they feel confident in hiring you. Put the shoe on the other foot; if you needed someone to fill a position to do a job for you corporation, would YOU after only 2 weeks want to go through the interview process again? Nobody that runs a company have time to waste. They see 'flakes' all the time, what they want is a good responsible employee.

Whew! Good luck.