Do You Pay More or Less Taxes When You Get Married?
In this article, we break down when couples may face a marriage penalty—and when they might receive a marriage bonus. You'll see side-by-side income examples, learn how the 2026 sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could impact your future tax bill, and understand how marriage affects things like IRA eligibility, Social Security taxes, and student loan repayment plans.
Marriage brings about numerous life changes—some personal, some financial. One common question couples ask is whether tying the knot means paying more in taxes. The answer? It depends.
Let’s walk through the key considerations that determine whether you face a marriage bonus or a marriage penalty, how upcoming tax law changes could impact your filing status, and what smart tax planning looks like for married couples.
1. Marriage Bonus vs. Marriage Penalty
The IRS offers special tax brackets and deductions for married couples filing jointly—but whether this works in your favor depends on your income levels.
Marriage Bonus
Occurs when one spouse earns significantly more than the other (or one spouse doesn’t earn at all). Filing jointly often results in a lower combined tax bill compared to filing separately.
Marriage Penalty
Occurs when both spouses earn similar, high incomes. Their combined income may push them into a higher tax bracket faster than if they filed as two single individuals.
The Marriage Bonus and Penalty Have Been Diminished
Since the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, the gap between the married penalty and the marriage bonus has greatly decreased. Said another way, in many cases, when comparing the federal income tax paid by two single filers to what they would pay if they got married and started filing as married filing jointly, the amounts are now fairly similar.
Example:
Couple A: Two people earning $50,000 each, no dependents in 2025
As single filers, they would each pay $4,016 in Federal income tax, resulting in a total of $8,032 between the two of them.
If they were married filing jointly, earning a combined $100,000, their federal tax liability would be $8,032, which is the same exact amount.
Couple B: One person earning $200,000 and the second person earning $50,000
As single filers, they would pay $37,538 and $4,016 in federal income tax, respectively, for a total of $41,554 in taxes paid.
If they were married filing jointly, earning a combined $250,000, their federal tax liability would be $39,076, putting them in the “married bonus” category because they paid $2,478 less as joint filers.
2. 2025/2026 Tax Law Changes
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 temporarily expanded the marriage bonus by adjusting tax brackets so that married filing jointly brackets were nearly double those for single filers. But that could change.
What’s happening in 2026?
Unless Congress acts, the TCJA provisions will sunset at the end of 2025. This means:
Tax brackets may revert to pre-2018 levels
The standard deduction will shrink
The marriage penalty may reappear or worsen for dual earners
A tax bill is moving through Congress to extend or modify these provisions, but the tax bill has yet to pass Congress and reach its final form.
3. Impacts on Other Financial Areas
Marriage affects more than just your tax bracket. Here are other areas where your combined income can matter:
IRAs & Roth IRAs:
Couples with high combined income may be phased out of Roth IRA eligibility or be ineligible for deductible Traditional IRA contributions.Child Tax Credit & Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC):
Phaseouts are based on combined income, which can reduce or eliminate your eligibility even if you previously qualified.Student Loan Repayment:
Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans like REPAYE or SAVE base your payments on combined household income, increasing monthly obligations after marriage.
4. Filing Separately — When Does It Make Sense?
Most married couples file jointly, but there are a few niche cases where filing separately may be beneficial:
One spouse has high medical expenses relative to their income
You’re repaying student loans on an income-driven plan that uses individual income
For a married couple with children, if there is a big deviation in income between the two spouses, the lower-income-earning spouse may qualify for more child-related tax credits and deductions.
One spouse has significant tax liabilities or legal concerns and you want to limit shared responsibility
However, filing separately often disqualifies you from certain credits and deductions, so it’s important to weigh the trade-offs.
5. Tax Planning Tips for Married Couples
Timing Matters:
If you marry on December 31, you’re considered married for the whole tax year. That means your filing status changes for that year, no matter the wedding date.Update Your Withholding:
Adjust your W-4 to avoid under- or over-withholding. The IRS has a helpful Tax Withholding Estimator to guide you.Run a Mock Return:
Use tax software or consult a planner to compare filing jointly vs. separately before submitting your return.
Final Thoughts
Marriage doesn’t automatically mean you’ll pay more in taxes—but it does change the equation. For some, marriage brings a welcome tax break. For others, particularly high earners, it may result in higher taxes and lost deductions.
Strategic tax planning—especially in light of the pending changes to the tax laws—can help minimize surprises and maximize your benefits as a married couple.
About Michael……...
Hi, I’m Michael Ruger. I’m the managing partner of Greenbush Financial Group and the creator of the nationally recognized Money Smart Board blog . I created the blog because there are a lot of events in life that require important financial decisions. The goal is to help our readers avoid big financial missteps, discover financial solutions that they were not aware of, and to optimize their financial future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Does getting married mean you’ll pay more in taxes?
Not always—it depends on your income levels and how they combine. If one spouse earns significantly more than the other, you may receive a marriage bonus. If both spouses earn similar, high incomes, you may face a marriage penalty because your combined income could push you into a higher tax bracket.
What is the difference between a marriage bonus and a marriage penalty?
A marriage bonus occurs when filing jointly reduces your combined tax liability compared to filing separately as single taxpayers. A penalty occurs when your combined income causes you to pay more tax as a couple than you would have individually.
Did the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) change the marriage penalty?
Yes. The TCJA largely reduced or eliminated the marriage penalty by aligning joint filer tax brackets to be nearly double those for single filers. However, these provisions are temporary and are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress renews them.
Can marriage affect IRA and Roth IRA contributions?
Yes. Married couples’ combined income is used to determine eligibility for Roth IRA contributions and deductible Traditional IRA contributions. High-income couples may phase out of eligibility due to their joint modified adjusted gross income (MAGI).
How does marriage impact the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
Both credits are subject to income phaseouts based on combined household income. After marriage, your eligibility could decrease or disappear even if you qualified for these credits individually before.
Will marriage change my student loan repayment plan?
Yes, potentially. Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans such as SAVE or REPAYE often use combined household income to calculate monthly payments, which can increase the payment amount after marriage.
When does it make sense for married couples to file separately?
Filing separately may help when one spouse has high medical expenses relative to income, is repaying student loans under an income-driven plan, or has significant tax liabilities or legal issues. However, filing separately often disqualifies you from valuable deductions and credits, so it’s usually best to compare both scenarios first.
Does timing matter if you get married late in the year?
Yes. The IRS considers you married for the entire year if you are married on December 31. That means your filing status changes for that tax year, even if you married on the last day of December.
What should newly married couples do to adjust their taxes?
Update your W-4 form to reflect your new filing status and income levels, review your estimated tax payments, and consider running a mock return to compare joint versus separate filing options. This helps avoid over- or under-withholding and surprises at tax time.
What’s the best way to minimize taxes as a married couple?
Strategic planning is key. Maximize tax-advantaged savings (like 401(k)s or HSAs), manage income timing, and coordinate deductions. A tax professional can help you determine whether to file jointly or separately and how to prepare for upcoming tax law changes in 2026.
