Marriage Tax Penalty Calculator
Compare your taxes filing jointly vs separately.
See if marriage creates a tax bonus or penalty based on both incomes.
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Marriage Tax Impact
Marriage tax penalty occurs when a married couple pays more in taxes filing jointly than they would as two single filers.
Marriage tax bonus occurs when filing jointly saves money — common when one spouse earns significantly more.
How it works:
- Calculate each spouse’s tax as if filing Single
- Calculate the couple’s tax filing Married Filing Jointly
- Compare: Joint tax minus sum of single taxes
When penalties happen:
- Both spouses earn similar, high incomes
- Combined income pushes into higher brackets
When bonuses happen:
- One spouse earns much more than the other
- One spouse has little or no income
Based on 2024 federal tax brackets. Does not include state taxes or credits.