Marriage Tax Calculator

Getting married can change how you file and pay taxes—sometimes for better, and sometimes not. For couples with a single income or a large income gap, marriage may offer potential tax savings. However, when both spouses earn similar high incomes, taxes can actually increase compared to filing as single individuals. This calculator helps you understand how marriage could impact your tax situation.

Tax Benefits of Filing Jointly

Most married couples choose to file a joint tax return. This filing status often comes with several advantages:

• Access to More Tax Credits: Certain tax breaks—like the earned income tax credit, student loan interest deduction, education credits, and deductions for tuition or elderly care—are available only to those filing jointly. These can lead to meaningful savings.

• Lower Tax Bracket with Uneven Incomes: If one spouse earns significantly more than the other, combining incomes can move the higher earner into a lower joint tax bracket.

• Spousal IRA Contributions: Normally, only people with earned income can contribute to an IRA. But if you’re married and filing jointly, a non-working or stay-at-home spouse can also contribute through a spousal IRA, helping grow retirement savings.

• Estate Tax Benefits: Federal law allows spouses to transfer assets to each other tax-free upon death, which can protect wealth from federal estate taxes.

What About Filing Separately?

Although it’s less common, some married couples consider filing taxes separately. In most cases, this results in higher taxes and fewer available deductions, so it’s rarely the best choice. For simplicity and accuracy, this calculator does not show results for the married filing separately status.

Understanding the Marriage Penalty

In certain situations, being married can actually increase your tax bill—this is known as the marriage penalty. It often affects:

• Dual high-income earners: If both spouses have large incomes, filing jointly can push them into a higher combined tax bracket than if they filed as singles.

• Lower-income couples losing credits: Even couples with modest incomes can lose eligibility for tax credits they would qualify for individually, due to the combined income limits applied to married filers.

While the marriage penalty can be frustrating, it’s not permanent or unavoidable. Tax laws change, and your financial situation might shift over time. Many couples still benefit in the long run, especially those with one income source.

Summary: When Marriage Saves or Costs You

• Likely tax savings: One-income households or couples with large income differences

• Possible tax penalty: Two-income households with similar and/or high earnings

Use our Marriage Tax Calculator to explore how your filing status could impact your taxes—whether you’re newly married or just planning ahead.