The Newlywed Tax Guide: Steps to Take After Saying “I Do”

Wedding cake? Check. Honeymoon? Unforgettable. First tax season as a married couple? Uh-oh.

Fear not, lovebirds, this guide has got you covered. Let’s turn those tax forms into less of a chore and more of a post-wedding adventure.

Newly Married To Do: Name and Address Changes 

If you change their name after marriage, report your name change to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as soon as possible. The name on your tax return must match the name associated with your social security number on file with the SSA. A name and SSN mismatch may delay or prevent processing the individual’s return.

• File Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card to update your information with the SSA. 
• Notify the IRS if you change your address after getting married. Use Form 8822, Change of Address . For more information about how to notify the IRS of an address change, see  Topic 157, Change Your Address – How to Notify the IRS . 

Newlyweds: Double-check Withholding

Newly married couples, check your tax withholding. If both you and your spouse work, you may need to adjust the withholding from your paychecks. Completing new Forms W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance, will allow your employers to withhold the correct amount of federal income tax.

• Use the IRS’s Tax Withholding Estimator to help complete new Forms W-4.
• In certain situations, some newly married couples must give their employers a new Forms W-4 within 10 days after changing their filing status. 
• For more information about completing Form W-4, review IRS Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. 

What is the Marriage Tax Penalty?

People often say two is better than one…except sometimes in tax law. The so-called marriage tax penalty is when a newly married couple ends up paying more income tax than they would if they had remained single. This is the reason why you need to check withholding. You might move into a higher tax bracket or be affected by the additional Medicare tax. Marriage penalties occur when the tax brackets, standard deductions, and other aspects of the tax code available to married couples aren’t double those available to single taxpayers.

The good news is that Congress has taken steps to reduce the effects of the marriage penalty. In recent tax reform, the revised tax brackets have thresholds for six of the seven tax brackets for married couples filing joint returns exactly double those available to single filers.

The highest tax bracket still has a significant marriage penalty:

• For the 2022 tax year, single people pay a rate of 37% on taxable income over $539,901.
• For married couples filing jointly, that threshold is $647,851, which is a significant tax penalty.

Marriage Tax Bonus

On the flip side, some married couples get a marriage tax bonus, which means you and your spouse pay less income tax after marriage than if you stayed single.

What leads to a marriage tax bonus?

The more unequal you and your spouse incomes are, the more likely that combining your incomes on a joint return will pull some of the higher earner’s income into a lower bracket. Result: marriage tax bonus.

However, when you and your spouse are both high-earning with relatively equal incomes, the odds of getting hit with the marriage penalty go up.

Decide Married Filing Status

As a newly married couple, you and your spouse can choose to file your federal income taxes jointly or separately each year. For most couples, filing jointly makes the most sense, but you should review your own situation.

If you do face a marriage penalty, continuing to file as a single person won’t work. If you’re legally married as of December 31 of the tax year, the IRS considers you to be married for the full year.

Also, if you choose the married filing separately status, it seldom lowers your tax bill.

When filing separately you can’t claim a number of tax credits and deductions, including:

• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Education credits, including the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit
• Child and Dependent Care Credit
• Student loan interest deduction

In addition, your deduction for capital losses is limited to $1,500 (instead of $3,000 on a joint return). Also, if one spouse itemizes deductions, both must itemize, even if the standard deduction would result in a lower tax bill for the other spouse.

Beyond the Vows: Building a Financially Sound Future Together

Now that you’ve mastered your wedding dance, it’s time to choreograph your tax strategy. Marriage brings new moves to learn, from tax brackets to deductions, and while it might not be as fun as your reception, getting it right can be just as satisfying. Think of it as fiscal health keeping pace with your marital bliss—manage it well, and you’ll keep those tax woes from crashing your newlywed party.

If this all seems a bit overwhelming, you don’t have to go it alone. The team at Smith Patrick is here to help you through life’s changes.