FLMA

Forum|Forum|26 days ago
May 13, 2026
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My husband is on FMLA, should my W4 reflect anything different (like both our children)? Or because his W4 reflects 2 dependents, I do not also claim them

Ask the Experts - W4 - May 2026

SwapnaM

Employee Tax Expert

Yes, the tax credits for your children should only be claimed once between the two of you. If your husband’s W-4 already reflects both children (Step 3), you should not claim them on yours. Usually, the higher-earning spouse should claim the dependents in Step 3 to maximize the immediate tax benefit, while the other spouse leaves Step 3 at $0.

Unpaid FMLA: If his leave is completely unpaid, your household income will be significantly lower this year. In this specific case, you could move the dependents to your W-4 to increase your take-home pay, provided he updates his W-4 to $0.
Paid FMLA / Short-Term Disability: If he is receiving a paycheck or disability benefits, those are usually still taxable. It is safest to leave the dependents on one person's form (his or yours).

Also make sure you both have the "Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works" box checked in Step 2(c).

@safreeman10 Thanks for the question!

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