<prompt> Human: Background: My husband and I got married in 2013. Previously, my husband would regularly get a 1,000 return and I would get about 1,500. Since weve been married, our return has gone done to approximately 500 each year and last year we actually owed 1,500.We were not prepared for that at all. I know it is usually suggested to get as close to 0 on your return but we like having that forced savings, so to speak. My question is how is it possible that we both went from having a large return to owing money? We both claim 0, havent done anything differently other than getting married.Thanks for your time.  <response>: A return is what you file.A refund is what youd get if you OVERPAID throughout the year.Your total tax liability is all that matters. Your refund, or what you owe, is just you trueing up your liability with the IRS. If you owe, it means you withheld too little throughout the year.As for your question...what do your W4s say? If you have Married, it assumes that youre working and your spouse is NOT so its likely that youre withholding less throughout the year. You can still select Single, or Married but withhold at the higher single rate and theyll withhold more so you dont owe at the end of the year. 