@Anonymous , are you talking about being an intern during the summer break ?
1. US tax system , while voluntary (?) works on kind of Pay as you earn ( PAYE) and tries to use W-4 as a means for the taxpayer to tell the employer how much tax is to be withheld ( i.e. taken out of the paycheck ) per pay period. This withheld amount ( for the federal & State ) are then deposited directly with the taxing authority.
2. The official aim for the form is to "pre-pay " what would be owed when you file your return ( a reconciliation effort ) at the end of the tax year. However, in actual fact , most taxpayer allow the employer to withhold and transmit ( to the taxing authorities) more than required to be current -- thus expecting a large refund at the end of the year ( it is like a free loan to the authorities but also a savings plan for the taxpayer. Whereas the IRS / State is legally only required / allowed to collect what is due, by you signing the W-4 , you make a voluntary excess / loan to the taxing authority.
3. For a student only working during the Summer as an intern , generally and using "Single" filing status is normal and generally sufficient.
4. For international students however, this may be too much depending on the country you are from -- because some treaty countries assert NO taxation on students up to an amount or for a number of years. Thus you should tell me which country you are from. Generally though it is safe for you to use 1 ( single ) as filing status and no other special deductions.
P)lease tell me which country you are from, when you first entered this country, what visa are you on etc. etc.
pk
