Please help! Parents don’t know my wife and I are married

[Jordan6633]

Me and my wife got married in June. Her father paid for her schooling and health and dental insurance and wants to claim her. But they don’t know we are married until our wedding in a few months. I don’t know what to do. Do we file married filing separately? Please help

[IsabellaG]

This really is a dilemma. Your wife's father won't be able to claim her as a dependent if you file a joint return together unless you only file a joint return to get all of your withholding refunded to you. If you file separate returns, that won't work either if there would be a tax liability for either spouse on separate returns.  If you are married at the end of 2018, you can only file as Married, Joint or Married. Separate. 

I'd advise you to come clean before the wedding.

[IsabellaG]

This really is a dilemma. Your wife's father won't be able to claim her as a dependent if you file a joint return together unless you only file a joint return to get all of your withholding refunded to you. If you file separate returns, that won't work either if there would be a tax liability for either spouse on separate returns.  If you are married at the end of 2018, you can only file as Married, Joint or Married. Separate. 

I'd advise you to come clean before the wedding.