Marriage Tax Calculator (Penalty or Bonus)
See whether getting married would raise or lower your federal income tax.
Penalty or bonus?
When two people marry, they usually file jointly, and their income is taxed using the joint brackets. If the two incomes are very different, the lower earner is often pulled into lower brackets, producing a bonus. If both incomes are high and similar, some of the joint brackets are less than twice as wide as the single ones, producing a penalty.
Example
With incomes of $90,000 and $60,000, two single filers pay about $15,990 together, while a joint return pays about $15,340, so marriage saves roughly $650 in this simple comparison.
For 2026 the joint brackets are exactly double the single ones up to the end of the 32% bracket, but the 35% bracket ends at $768,700 for joint filers against $640,600 for single filers, so pure income-tax penalties mostly appear at very high incomes. Credits and deductions, such as the limit on state and local tax deductions, can also create penalties. This tool compares income tax only, with the standard deduction, and ignores credits, itemizing, state taxes and benefits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file separately instead?
Yes, married filing separately is an option, but it often costs more than filing jointly, so check before you choose it.
Does this include credits?
No. Credits, itemized deductions and state taxes can change the result.
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