W-4 Married Filing Jointly

[musemigs1]

I am starting a new job and need to complete a new W-4. I plan to select "Married filing jointly" and then use option 2b in step 2. We have 1 dependent to claim and I am the higher earner, with my wife earning less than 50% of my income. I understand that my form should include the extra withholding amount (4c) based on the worksheet as well as the $2,000 credit for 1 dependent, but how should my wife update her W-4? Should she also have the same extra withholding amount? What should her W-4 look like?

Thanks in advance!

[DMarkM1 · Accepted solution]

No.  Typically the second W4 would not include any extra withholding.  The worksheet calculations would have accounted for that income.  She should select "Married Filing Jointly" in step 1 and sign in step 5.  

[musemigs1]

Thank you so much for the quick and clear response. To summarize:

I (the higher earner) will complete sections 2-4, include our dependent and additional withholding based on the worksheet.

My wife (the lower earner) will only mark married filing jointly and sign, without adding additional withholding or dependents.

Hope I understood that correctly.

Thanks again!

[pkpiedsa2000]

We are in the same situation, so my wife  selected 'Married Filing Jointly' and submitted her W-4. Is it normal that no federal tax is being withheld from her paycheck?

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Thank you.