Quote Quoting Foster_Foster
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You would discuss the finer details of your situation with a local tax professional. I wouldn't seem best to act on suggestion from strangers based on next to no info. From a layman, it would seem smarter for her to file separately if she doesn't want to get caught up in the rigamarole involved with having to worry about filing "injured spouse" (innocent spouse) paperwork with regard to however much of a refund is hers and shouldn't be subject to your child support obligation.
That is kind of bad advice. They would not be eligible for many of the credits for children that are available if they filed separately. There is rarely every an instance, with a married couple with children, where it would be even remotely in their best interest to file married filing separate returns.

That is why the injured spouse form exists.

(It also might be smarter to adjust your exemptions such that you don't get any refund at all but can take advantage of more money on a regular basis and not give Uncle Sam an interest-free loan every year.)
They may not be able to do that. If they qualify for earned income credit it would be truly impossible to arrange their exemptions in a manner that would avoid a refund. In fact, even just the child tax credits make that nearly impossible for many married couples.