My spouse has a balance owing, but between both of us we are owed an amount. Do we simply use the balance between both the return and the owed amount?

Sorry, what do you mean by using the balance?

If your spouse has a balance owing and you're getting a refund, you need to pay their balance in full and wait for your refund. The CRA will not transfer your refund to pay another person’s amount owing.

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You will need to pay the balance, and whoever is getting a refund, will be sent to them.  

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