Marriage Tax Calculator
See whether tying the knot raises or lowers your federal income tax. Enter each partner's gross income and this tool applies the 2025 standard deduction, then compares filing as two singles against married filing jointly to estimate a marriage penalty or bonus.
Annual income
Estimate only. Uses 2025 federal tax data — brackets plus the standard deduction for each filing status. Credits, AMT, state tax, and other adjustments are not included.
How to use this calculator
1. Enter each partner's gross income
Use gross income before deductions. The calculator subtracts the 2025 standard deduction for you — $15,000 for each single filer, $30,000 for a joint return — so you don't have to work out taxable income yourself. The two values can be different sizes.
2. Read the headline figure
The big number is the difference between filing jointly and filing as two singles. A penalty means the couple owes more together; a bonus means they owe less.
3. Compare the two totals
The cards show the combined single-filer tax and the married-filing-jointly tax side by side, so you can see exactly where the difference comes from.
4. Treat it as a planning estimate
This uses 2025 federal tax data — brackets and the standard deduction — and ignores itemized deductions, credits, state tax, and other adjustments. For an exact figure, run your full return or talk to a tax professional.
About the marriage tax
What is the marriage penalty and marriage bonus?
A marriage penalty happens when a couple owes more federal income tax filing jointly than they would as two single filers. A marriage bonus is the reverse — they owe less together. Couples with similar incomes are more likely to see a penalty, while couples with very different incomes often get a bonus.
Does this calculator give my exact tax bill?
No. It's an estimate based on 2025 federal brackets and the standard deduction for each filing status. It ignores itemized deductions, credits, the alternative minimum tax, state taxes, and other adjustments, so your real return can differ.
Why similar incomes can trigger a penalty
Most joint brackets are exactly twice the single brackets at lower rates, but they narrow at the top. When both partners earn high incomes, more of their combined total lands in the higher brackets than it would on two separate returns.