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Marriage Tax Calculator

See whether marriage raises or lowers your combined federal income tax. A positive result is a marriage penalty (you pay more together); a negative result is a marriage bonus.

Your details

Marriage penalty / bonus
$0.00
Tax filing jointly
$26,898.00
Tax as two singles
$26,898.00
Marriage penalty / bonus$0.00

Formula

Compares married-filing-jointly tax on your combined income against the sum of each spouse's tax as a single filer, using 2025 federal brackets and the standard deduction. A penalty typically appears when two similar high incomes are combined; a bonus appears when incomes are very unequal.

Frequently asked questions

Why do some couples pay a penalty?

Because the married brackets are not always exactly twice the single brackets at higher incomes. Two similar high earners can be pushed into a higher combined bracket than they would face separately.

Does this include state tax or credits?

No. This is a federal income-tax comparison using the standard deduction only. State taxes, itemized deductions, and credits (like the earned income credit) can change the result.

Sources & methodology

Federal-only comparison using 2025 brackets and the standard deduction. Excludes state tax, itemized deductions, and credits. Not tax advice.

Last updated: 2026-07-20

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