Hello, I am married with 3 children. I claim married 1 on my taxes and my wife claims married 2. How does this affect our taxes and should we both be claiming the same?

[izitme]

My understanding was always that claiming a lower number (0 or 1) would get back more of a refund and claiming a higher number (2) would get you less of a refund but more in your paycheck. 

[robertmbarker08 · Accepted solution]

When you fill out a W4 for your job and you claim 0-4 for example it effects your taxes in this way... Claiming 0 they take more taxes out so you have a better chance of getting a refund. If you claim 4 they don't take as much tax and you have more money on your paycheck but less chance of a refund. The percentage of tax varies 0-4 with 0 being the most taken out to 4 being the least. Hope this helps.

[b283s]

what you claim for your w-2 affects your withholding . If you file married  joint return is has no affect . It only affects your filing if you file separate and then there are al kinds of things you need to do.