W-4 for first job in the US

[biggiehuggie 40]

I came here on a K1 visa and I have been issued an EAD already. A potential employer asked me to fill out a W-4 form and I am confused. Am I considered "tax exempt'? I understand that I should have no tax liability for the previous year because I have not worked yet but I am not sure whether I meet the other prerequisites for being exempted. 

 

I worked in Singapore until May 2017 of last year, all taxes cleared. If my husband(USC) decide to jointly file our taxes, do I need to declare my income in Singapore last 2017? Will I then be liable for taxes if we decide to file jointly, therefore, making me ineligible to be "tax exempt'? Or does filing jointly have no connection at all to being "tax exempt'?

 

I am sorry if my situation is complicated. Any clarification from you guys will be helpful!

[ElGuapo88 19]

The W4 you are filling out will be used to calculate taxes for your new employer going forward.  My understanding is that you are only able to claim "exempt" if you owed no taxes the previous year AND you don't expect to owe any taxes the current year.  Since you will be starting a new job and will owe taxes on your income, the second part is not true for you so therefore you will not be able to claim this.  I'm not a tax expert though so you might want to do some more research and/or consult an accountant, especially for your other questions.  I assume that any income you earned outside the country for a non-US company would have nothing to do with your taxes here, but you never know.