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Marriage Tax Calculator

See if you'll pay more or less in taxes after marriage. Compare single filer taxes vs married filing jointly using 2026 US federal brackets.

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Gross wages / salary
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Mortgage interest, etc.
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Investment, rental, etc.
Marriage Bonus — You Save by Filing Jointly
Save $1,153/yr
Tax as Single Filers$11,476/yr
Tax Filing Jointly (MFJ)$10,323/yr
Combined Income$120,000/yr
Effective Tax Rate (MFJ)8.6%
You benefit from the marriage bonus — MFJ brackets are more than double the single brackets for your income combination.

How the Marriage Tax Bonus and Penalty Work

When you marry, the IRS assigns your combined income to the Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) tax brackets, which are not simply double the single brackets. This asymmetry creates either a marriage bonus (you pay less than as two singles) or a marriage penalty (you pay more).

Marriage Bonus

A bonus occurs when one spouse earns significantly more than the other. The lower-earning spouse "pulls" household income out of the higher bracket into the wider MFJ brackets. Couples with one stay-at-home spouse or a large income gap typically receive the largest bonuses.

Marriage Penalty

A penalty occurs when both spouses earn similar incomes. Their combined income hits the top of the MFJ brackets faster than it would individually. The penalty is most severe for dual-income couples where both earn around $100,000–$250,000.

Single Tax = Tax(Spouse1 Taxable Income) + Tax(Spouse2 Taxable Income)
MFJ Tax = Tax(Combined Taxable Income using MFJ brackets)
Bonus/Penalty = Single Tax − MFJ Tax
(Positive = Bonus, Negative = Penalty)

Worked Example — Marriage Bonus

Spouse 1 earns $75,000, Spouse 2 earns $45,000. No state income tax.

Spouse 1 Federal Tax (Single)$10,294
Spouse 2 Federal Tax (Single)$4,954
Combined Single Tax$15,248
MFJ Federal Tax (same income)$13,200
Marriage Bonus~$2,048/yr

2026 Federal Tax Brackets

The calculator uses the projected 2026 federal income tax brackets, which reflect annual inflation adjustments from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions still in effect.

Single Filer Brackets (2026)

Married Filing Jointly Brackets (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Couples where one spouse earns much more than the other typically get a marriage bonus because the lower earner pulls combined income into lower brackets. Couples where both earn similar incomes — especially in the $100K–$400K range each — face the marriage penalty because their combined income hits the top of the MFJ brackets faster than filing separately.
Filing Married Filing Separately (MFS) uses brackets that are exactly half the MFJ brackets — essentially the same as single brackets with a higher standard deduction cutoff. MFS rarely saves money in federal taxes alone because you lose eligibility for many credits (Child Tax Credit phase-outs, AOTC, earned income credit) and the student loan interest deduction. It can help when one spouse has large itemized deductions like unreimbursed medical expenses.
Yes. Some states have their own progressive brackets that can create state-level marriage penalties. California and New York are known for significant state-level marriage penalties because their brackets don't fully double for MFJ filers. States with flat income taxes (Illinois, Pennsylvania) have no bracket-based penalty, and the nine states without income tax have no state-level impact.
In 2026, the standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for MFJ — exactly double, so there's no penalty or bonus from the deduction itself. The bonus or penalty comes entirely from the bracket structure. If you itemize deductions, enter your itemized amounts to see the effect on your taxable income.
This calculator provides a good estimate based on ordinary income, the standard deduction, and simplified state rates. It does not account for: capital gains (taxed at lower rates), AMT, self-employment taxes, tax credits (Child Tax Credit, EITC, etc.), retirement contributions, or itemized deductions beyond what you enter. For exact figures, use IRS Form 1040 instructions or consult a CPA.

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Advanced

Bracket visualization, state tax comparison across 10 states, and AGI slider showing bonus/penalty at every income level.

+ Advanced Tax Analysis
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Federal Tax Impact of Marriage
Marriage Bonus: Save $0/yr
As Two Singles$16,228
Filing Jointly (MFJ)$16,228
Combined Income$150,000
MFJ Effective Rate10.8%
MFJ Bracket Utilization
10% bracket (up to $23,850)$23,850 filled
12% bracket (up to $96,950)$73,100 filled
22% bracket (up to $206,700)$53,050 filled
Professional

Full Schedule 1 with all income sources, itemized vs standard deduction with SALT cap analysis, AMT check, and 5-year projection.

+ Professional Tax Modeling
Income Sources
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Schedule C / K-1
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Schedule C / K-1
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Above-the-Line Deductions
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Max 2026: $23,000
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2026 self: $4,150
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Full Schedule 1 Summary
Marriage Bonus $0
Spouse 1 AGI$92,850
Spouse 2 AGI$72,000
Combined AGI$164,850
Tax as Singles$19,495
Tax MFJ$19,495
S1 Marginal Rate (Single)22.0%
S2 Marginal Rate (Single)22.0%
MFJ Marginal Rate22.0%