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mikkiyoshi · Jan 29, 2009, 02:04 PM

Hi,

I moved from M'sia to U.S on Jan-16-2008 and start work on Jan-21-08. My husband is holding a J1 visa having his attachement training in California at the same time. No kids.

My questions:
1. What is the right W4 number to report? I enter total 3, is this a right number to report?
A. Enter "1" for yourself if no one else can claim you as dependent.
B. Enter "1" if :
You are single and have only one job.
You are married, have only one job, and your spouse does not work.
You wages from a second job or your spouses wages (or the total of both) are $1500 or less

C. Enter "1" for your spouse. But you may chose to enter "0" if you are married and have either a working spouse or more than one job. (Entering "0" may help you avoid having too little tax withheld.)

2. Is my husband consider a working spouse or dependent?
3. Should I file Married filling Jointly or Married filling together?

AtlantaTaxExpert · Jan 29, 2009, 03:21 PM

By law, you canclaim no more than TWO exemptions if you file MARRIED and ONE exemption if you file SINGLE. This is done to ensure enough money is withheld from your salary to cover any tax liability.

When you file, your husband can file jointly with you and you both CHOOSE to be treated as resident aliens. It will require that he claim ALL world-wide income, but it allows you to claim two personal exemptions and the joint standard deduction of $10,900.