Dear Couple,
Married filing separately is the highest tax rate of all the status and generally not beneficial. The W4 form is the form you file to instruct the payroll clerk how much to withhold from your paycheck. You may end up taking more money home with more exemptions on your W4 but it could be problematic when you file your 1040.
Your wife's extra job probably did not have enough withholding not to mention the tips that may or may not be involved.
You cannot do anything about the withholding now, but if your wife continues to work as bartender than I would complete a new W4 form claiming only 2 children more taxes are withheld to cover your wife's income.
Also you cannot be considered a head of household with 3 children if you are married. I gathered that might have been your strategy.
Gaga53
