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When filing federal income taxes, everyone has to choose a filing status. There are five filing statuses: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household and qualifying widow/er with dependent child. Most people are only eligible for one or two of the statuses and your status is likely to change at some point in your life. One common change is going from filing single to filing married.
Planning your family’s finances goes beyond just taxes. Find a financial advisor and see how they can potentially help.
How Marriage Affects Tax Credits and Deductions
When you get married, your eligibility for certain tax credits and deductions can change. Filing a joint return may increase the income limits for some benefits, while filing separately can reduce or even eliminate eligibility for others. The choice between joint and separate filing directly affects how much you can claim.
One key example is the child tax credit. Married couples filing jointly can claim up to the full credit amount if their combined income falls below the phaseout limit. This makes joint filing the better option for many families who want to maximize the credit.
The earned income tax credit (EITC) also changes with marital status. Married couples who file jointly may qualify for a higher income threshold compared with single filers. Those who file separately are generally ineligible for the credit, but there is an exception: if you are legally separated or living apart from your spouse for the last six months of the year and you have a qualifying child, you may still claim the credit.
Education-related credits, such as the American opportunity tax credit (AOTC) and lifetime learning credit, follow similar rules. Married couples must file jointly to claim these benefits. Filing separately excludes both spouses from claiming them, regardless of tuition costs or other qualifying expenses.
Other deductions, like those for IRA contributions, also have income phaseouts that shift when filing as married. Combining incomes may push couples over certain thresholds, limiting or eliminating the deduction. For some households, this can create what is known as a “marriage penalty,” while others may benefit from higher joint income limits.
Single vs. Married: Filing Options
Before talking about the impact of your tax filing status, let’s consider the IRS definitions for when you can use the single vs. married filing statuses. To use the single filing status, you need to be unmarried, legally separated and/or divorced on the last day of the tax year (December 31). To qualify as married in the eyes of the IRS you need to get legally married on or before the last day of the tax year.
If you can legally file as married, then you must. Married individuals cannot file as single or as the head of a household. Keep in mind that the requirements are the same for same-sex marriages. If you were legally married by a state or foreign government, the IRS will expect you to file as married.
Married couples have two choices for filing their taxes. Married filing separately will allow you and your spouse to file separate returns. This works very similarly to filing single. On the other hand, married filing jointly should be your status choice if you and your spouse both want to file your incomes on one return. Filing only one return could save you time and money. Choosing one status over the other will result in different limits for tax brackets, deductions and credits.
How the Filing Process Changes From Single to Married
The clearest example of how your taxes will change after marriage is in the income tax brackets. The tables below show the tax brackets for the 2025 tax year (what you file in 2026). You’ll notice that if you choose to file a joint return, the minimum and maximum incomes will change for each tax bracket.
In some cases, married couples will find themselves in a lower tax bracket now that they are combining incomes. At the same time, married individuals who file separately will pay income taxes according to the same brackets as single filers.
Federal Income Tax Brackets for 2025 (filed by April 15, 2026)
| Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $23,850 | $0 – $11,925 | $0 – $17,000 |
| 12% | $11,926 – $48,475 | $23,851 – $96,950 | $11,926 – $48,475 | $17,001 – $64,850 |
| 22% | $48,476 – $103,350 | $96,951 – $206,700 | $48,476 – $103,350 | $64,851 – $103,350 |
| 24% | $103,351 – $197,300 | $206,701 – $394,600 | $103,351 – $197,300 | $103,351 – $197,300 |
| 32% | $197,301 – $250,525 | $394,601 – $501,050 | $197,301 – $250,525 | $197,301 – $250,500 |
| 35% | $250,526 – $626,350 | $501,051 – $751,600 | $250,526 – $375,800 | $250,501 – $626,350 |
| 37% | $626,351+ | $751,601+ | $375,801+ | $626,351+ |
Outside of income taxes, filing a joint return will change limits for other deductions. For example, the standard deduction for the 2025 tax year is $15,000 for single filers, up from $14,600 in 2024 The deduction for taxpayers who are married and file jointly for the 2025 tax year is $30,000, up from $29,200 in 2024. In this case, the standard deduction is doubled for joint filers. That isn’t always the case though. As another example, single filers can deduct up to $3,000 of capital gains losses from income. A married couple filing jointly can only deduct $3,000 total (not $3,000 each). A married couple filing separately can only deduct $1,500 in capital losses from their incomes, each.
Check Your Withholding Information
One big change that comes with marriage is how you report withholdings. The IRS no longer uses personal exemptions on Form W-4. Instead, you and your spouse need to coordinate your withholding elections across both of your W-4 forms. If you do not align them, your employers may under-withhold taxes from your paychecks, which could leave you owing money when you file your tax return.
Bottom Line
If you get married on or before the last day of the tax year (December 31), your filing status for that year is married. You’ll need to choose between filing jointly or separately. Filing jointly means submitting one tax return, which is usually simpler and gives most couples the greatest tax benefits. Filing separately can make sense in limited cases, such as when one spouse has very high medical expenses or other deductions that depend on income levels.
Tips for Maximizing Your Tax Savings
- Filing taxes no longer has to be stressful thanks to a number of user-friendly tax services. They can also help you find deductions or exemptions that you might have missed. We broke down the two most popular tax filing services: H&R Block and TurboTax.
- A financial advisor can help you invest your tax refund based on your goals and risk tolerance. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Once you file your taxes, you may learn that you have a big tax refund coming your way. Here’s a refund schedule we’ve created to give you an idea when you can expect your money.
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