Just Married? Here’s How We Chose Joint vs. Separate (Without a Fight)

Key takeaways

• Filing jointly doesn’t automatically mean a “marriage penalty” anymore.
• For many couples, filing jointly can lower your overall tax rate — especially when incomes are different.
• Some situations (like itemizing or certain state rules) can change the math — so it’s worth running both scenarios.

We’d barely finished sending out thank you cards for wedding gifts when tax season rolled around.. 

Just a few months ago, we were debating DJs versus live bands. Now we were debating something less romantic: whether to file our first return as a married couple jointly or separately. 

I’d always assumed we’d file jointly. But once we started hearing about the “marriage penalty, ” I hesitated. I make less than my partner — would combining our incomes push us into a higher tax bracket? Would we end up paying more just because we got married?

Neither of us wanted taxes to become our first married fight. Instead of guessing — we decided to look at the numbers and separate myth from reality.

How you can decide whether to file jointly or separately

If you’re newly married, you’ll likely face the same question: should you file jointly or separately?

It can feel high stakes — especially if you and your spouse earn different amounts. You might worry that combining incomes will push you to a higher tax bracket or trigger the “marriage penalty.”

Instead of relying on what you’ve heard, run the numbers both ways. Compare what changes if you file jointly versus separately, and look at your total tax outcome — not just the marginal rate.

Myth: Filing jointly automatically means ‘a marriage penalty’

You may have heard that getting married can push you into a higher tax bracket and increase your overall tax bill. That concern comes from older tax structures, when income thresholds for married couples weren’t always aligned with single filers.

Reality: That’s not how it works for most couples

Under current federal tax rules, many income thresholds for married filing jointly are roughly double those for single filers. That means combining incomes doesn’t automatically push you into a higher rate.

In fact, if one spouse earns significantly more than the other, filing jointly can sometimes lower your overall effective tax rate. That’s sometimes referred to as a “marriage bonus.”

The key is to compare both scenarios using your actual numbers.

If you and your spouse earn very different amounts, filing jointly can sometimes work in your favor.

Let’s say you make $75,000 a year, and your spouse makes $200,000. As a single filer, you fall into the 22% threshold, and your spouse falls into the 32% marginal tax rate. 

With a joint income of $275,000 a year, your joint marginal tax rate is 24%, possibly leading to overall tax savings. Regardless, it is not the penalty it once was. 

This example assumes you are using the standard deduction, results may vary if you are itemizing. 

Exceptions to the rule

Filing jointly won’t create a penalty for most couples, but there are a few situations where the math can change: 

• Filers taking itemized deductions may end up with the “marriage penalty” if they file jointly, since there’s a $40,000 limit on most state and local tax (SALT) deductions, which is not double for couples filing jointly.
• Unique state tax bracket rules where thresholds aren’t doubled for joint filers, leading to higher combined income that pushes you into a higher tax bracket.

Say ‘I do’ to tax savings 

Just married? Use our Life Events Calculator to compare filing jointly versus separately and see what works best for you.