This idea seems quazi illegal.... but would it work?

[Darkceas]

My question is concerning my tax refund.

Recently married, I make around 120k a year and my wife does not have a job and is a stay at home wife. 

She has 60k in student loan debt, and i have none. 

If we file jointly obviously i would recieve a tremendous refund back due to the fact i have my w2s as single 0s. And she shows no earned income... (would be like both of us made 60k before deductions)  But i would hate to have all the extra "savings" money go to uncle sam. 

My question is.... what is stoping me from changing my w2 to married 9 and get it in my check by calculating the lets say 10k refund (10k÷52 weeks and make sure that amount is additional in my check)  and offsetting the calculated refund to end up being 0, thus indirectly blocking the garnishment?

[Mike9241]

i suppose you want to risk going to jail for perjury.   the w-4 is signed under penalty of perjury. you can't fudge exemptions on the w-4 because there are none but you can fudge other items to reduce withholding. there are no exemptions on the current w-4 because under the current tax laws exemptions are gone.  but you can file form 8379 innocent spouse allocation form with your income tax return. that should prevent any refund from being taken to pay your wife's debt.   also, proper completion of a new w-4 with the married filing jointly box checked should not result in excess withholding since you are the only one with income 

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[Critter-3]

Agreed ... you can either have less withholding   OR  file an injured spouse form with the return ... both are legal options.

[SweetieJean]

OP made same statement as a comment in another thread.