@reony This thread that is dated from 2019 might be a lot older. When the old user forum changed from Answer Xchange to Real Money Talk in mid-2019 a lot of old threads migrated over with 2019 dates. You might be reading outdated information that was entered here before the tax laws changed for 2018 and beyond--so be careful when you read anything dated 2019 in the user forum.
No, your spouse should not say she is exempt. She is not exempt from paying tax. She will not "file" as single. If you are legally married then the filing choices are married filing separately or married filing jointly. The W-4 you give to employer does not dictate how you file your tax return. It only tells the employer how much tax to withhold from your paychecks.
Here is some information that may help you with how to complete your W-4's for your employers.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/what-to-know-about-the-new-2020-irs-form-w-4-emplo...
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
