What are the tax benefits of marriage? 2024-2025

One of the biggest advantages of marriage is how it affects your taxes. The tax benefits of marriage can help couples save money, reduce the amount they owe, and even give them access to deductions and credits that single filers don’t get. If you’re planning to get married or are already married, it’s important to understand how filing taxes as a couple can impact your finances. Many people don’t realize that their tax situation changes after marriage. Some couples save thousands of dollars in taxes just by filing jointly, while others might need to make a few adjustments to maximize their benefits. Let’s break tax benefits of marriage in the easiest way, so you can get the most out of the tax benefits of marriage without feeling stressed. I’ll also touch on how professional tax services, like SK Financial CPA, can help married couples understand their taxes with confidence.

Filing Taxes After Marriage: Joint vs. Separate

When you get married, you have two options for filing your taxes:

1. Married Filing Jointly
2. Married Filing Separately

Most couples choose to file jointly because it often leads to lower taxes and better deductions. However, in some cases, filing separately can be more beneficial, especially if one spouse has large medical expenses, student loans, or significant deductions that could be reduced by filing jointly.

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Here’s a simple comparison:

For most people, filing jointly is the better option because it opens the door to more tax benefits that aren’t available to single filers or those filing separately.

Lower Tax Brackets for Married Couples

One of the biggest tax benefits of marriage is lower tax rates. The IRS tax system is progressive, meaning the more you earn, the higher percentage of taxes you pay. However, married couples filing jointly fall into lower tax brackets compared to two single individuals.

IRS adjusts tax brackets to account for inflation, which affects how much of your income is taxed at different rates. Below are the updated 2025 federal income tax brackets for single filers and married couples filing jointly.

Tax brackets for single filers vs. married filers in 2025

As you can see, married couples filing jointly are taxed at a lower rate for the same income. This is especially beneficial if one spouse earns significantly more than the other. In some cases, the higher-earning spouse pulls the lower-earning spouse into a lower tax bracket, reducing the overall tax bill for the couple.

Higher Standard Deduction

The standard deduction is the amount of money you can earn before you start paying taxes. It helps reduce taxable income, meaning you pay taxes on a smaller portion of your earnings.

standard deduction 2024-2025

The standard deduction reduces taxable income, lowering the amount you owe in taxes. For 2025, the IRS has increased the deduction amounts as follows:

Standard Deduction for Single and Married Filers 2024-2025 

Tax Credits That Benefit Married Couples

Another huge tax benefit of marriage is the ability to qualify for valuable tax credits. Tax credits are even better than deductions because they directly reduce the amount of tax you owe not just your taxable income.

Tax credits provide direct reductions to the amount of tax owed. Many tax credits have increased for 2025, allowing married couples to qualify for higher limits when filing jointly.

Tax credits that married couples 2025

 Tax credits that married couples 2024

Filing jointly increases income limits for many of these credits, meaning married couples can still qualify even if they make more money than a single filer would.

Spousal IRA Contributions

Marriage can also help couples save more for retirement while reducing their taxable income. If one spouse doesn’t work or earns very little, the working spouse can contribute to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) on behalf of the other spouse. This is known as a Spousal IRA Contribution, and it allows the couple to double their retirement savings while getting tax benefits.

How to check tax refund status

Married couples have the advantage of spousal IRA contributions, which allow a working spouse to contribute to a retirement account on behalf of their spouse.

2025 IRA Contribution Limits for Single vs. Married Filers

This means that even if one spouse doesn’t have an income, they can still save for retirement and get tax advantages thanks to the other spouse’s earnings.

Tax Changes After Marriage

Getting married means more than just a new chapter in life it also comes with financial adjustments, especially when it comes to taxes. Many couples don’t realize how much their tax situation changes until they sit down to file their first return together. Some of these changes can save you money, while others might require a little planning to avoid a bigger tax bill. The key is understanding what’s different and making adjustments early, so you don’t run into surprises when tax season comes around.

Updating Your Name with Social Security

If you changed your last name after getting married, you need to update it with the Social Security Administration (SSA) before filing your tax return. This might not seem important at first, but the IRS matches your tax records with Social Security records, and if the names don’t match, it can lead to delays in processing or even rejection of your return. The process is simple—just fill out Form SS-5, submit it to your local SSA office with the required documents, and wait for confirmation. Taking care of this early can save you from a major headache when it’s time to file your taxes.

Adjusting Your W-4 Form with Your Employer

One of the first things you’ll want to do after getting married is update your W-4 form with your employer. This form tells your employer how much tax to take out of your paycheck, and now that your financial situation has changed, the amount being withheld might no longer be accurate. If both you and your spouse work, your combined income could push you into a higher tax bracket, meaning you might owe more taxes than you expected at the end of the year. On the other hand, if only one spouse works, you might be overpaying in taxes and could be taking home more money each paycheck. Adjusting your W-4 ensures you’re not paying too much or too little, helping you avoid surprises when you file.

Conclusion

While taxes shouldn’t be the only reason to get married, it’s clear that the tax benefits of marriage can help couples save money in a big way. From lower tax brackets and higher deductions to valuable tax credits and retirement benefits, marriage can make a huge financial difference. Every couple’s situation is different, and sometimes filing separately makes sense. If you’re unsure what’s best for you, consulting a tax professional like SK Financial CPA can help you navigate the complexities of tax laws and ensure you’re getting the most out of your marriage financially. So, while marriage brings love and partnership, it also comes with a little extra gift from the IRS tax savings!

FAQs 

Can I file separately if I am married?

Yes, you can choose to file as “married filing separately”. However, this often results in losing out on valuable tax benefits and credits. 

Can I lose tax benefits if I earn too much?

Yes, some tax credits, like the child tax credit, phase out at higher income levels. 

Can I claim my spouse’s medical expenses or deductions?

Yes, if you are filing jointly, you can claim your spouse’s medical expenses and other deductions. However, these expenses must exceed a certain percentage of your combined income to be eligible for a deduction. 

Is it better to file jointly or separately?

Filing jointly is often the better option for most married couples because of the higher standard deduction and eligibility for more tax credits. However, in specific situations, such as when one spouse has significant debt or high medical expenses, filing separately may be more beneficial.

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