Marriage Tax Calculator
See whether tying the knot raises or lowers your federal income tax. Enter each partner's taxable income and this tool compares filing as two singles against married filing jointly to estimate a marriage penalty or bonus.
Taxable income
Estimate only. Uses 2025 federal income tax brackets applied to taxable income (income after deductions). Credits, AMT, state tax, and other adjustments are not included.
How to use this calculator
1. Enter each partner's taxable income
Use taxable income, not gross pay — that's the amount left after subtracting the standard deduction or your itemized deductions. 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 brackets and ignores 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 applied to taxable income — the income left after deductions. It ignores 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.