Marriage Tax Calculator
Compare taxes as a married couple versus two single filers to see your marriage penalty or bonus.
Income Information
Dependents & Credits
Additional Factors
Best Filing Strategy
Save $850
Single Filing Total
9.1% effective rate
Married Filing Joint
8.4% effective rate
Tax Breakdown
Tax Recommendations
- • Marriage provides a tax bonus of $850
- • Married filing jointly appears to be the optimal strategy
- • Consider maximizing 401(k) contributions to reduce taxable income
How it works
A marriage tax calculator compares filing taxes jointly as a couple versus as two singles. Because tax brackets and deductions aren't always exactly double the single amounts, marrying can create a 'penalty' (you pay more together) or a 'bonus' (you pay less), depending on how similar the two incomes are.
Penalty or bonus
Marriage effect = tax(joint) − [ tax(single A) + tax(single B) ]
- joint
- tax filing married jointly
- single A/B
- each spouse taxed alone
Worked example
- Two earners with similar high incomes
- Combined income can push into a higher bracket sooner than two singles would
Often a marriage penalty when both earn similar high incomes; a bonus when one earns much more than the other.
Good to know
- Single-earner or very unequal couples usually get a marriage bonus; two similar high earners may face a penalty.
- Most US brackets are now double the single ones, which has shrunk the penalty for many couples.
- State taxes and credits (like the EITC) can change the picture significantly.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the marriage tax penalty?
A marriage penalty occurs when a couple owes more tax filing jointly than they would as two single filers. It mainly hits couples where both partners earn similar, higher incomes, because some joint brackets and thresholds aren't double the single versions.
What is a marriage bonus?
A marriage bonus is the opposite: the couple pays less married than they would single. It typically arises when one spouse earns most of the income — joint brackets spread that income over wider ranges than a single filer would get, lowering the average rate.
Should we file jointly or separately?
Married filing jointly is better for the vast majority of couples — filing separately forfeits or reduces many credits and deductions. Separate filing occasionally wins in special cases, like income-driven student loan payments based on one spouse's income or isolating large medical deductions.
Why do two-earner couples sometimes pay more after marrying?
Lower tax brackets for joint filers are generally double the single brackets, but the top brackets and certain thresholds (like the additional Medicare tax and the cap on state and local tax deductions) are not. When both spouses have substantial income, their combined income reaches those pinch points faster.
Does getting married change tax withholding?
Yes — you should each submit an updated W-4 after marrying. Withholding tables assume your job is the household's only income, so two-earner couples who don't adjust (using the W-4's two-jobs checkbox or worksheet) are commonly under-withheld and face a surprise bill at filing time.