A couple suffers a “marriage penalty” if its partners pay more income tax as a married couple than they would have as two single individuals. Conversely, the couple receives a “marriage bonus” if its partners pay less income tax as a married couple than they would have as two single individuals. This calculator lets you see whether couples in particular situations receive tax penalties or bonuses from marriage. For more information on marriage penalties and bonuses, see this TPC Tax Topic.
NOTE: This calculator compares the taxes a married couple would pay filing a joint return with what they would pay if they were not married and each filed as single or head of household. It does not compare the taxes a married couple would pay filing jointly versus filing separately.

Input Enter whole dollar amounts without the $ sign.
Hover mouse cursor over question marks for additional information about each item.

Tax Year

Income

Person One Person Two
Earnings
Long term capital gains plus qualified dividends
Social Security benefits
Tax-exempt interest
Other taxable income

Itemized Deductions

(Divide between persons) 		State and local taxes
Mortgage interest
Charitable contributions
Medical expenses
Casualty and theft losses
Other itemized deductions

Dependent Children

(Divide between persons) 		How many children in total?
How many are under age 17?
How many are under age 13?
Childcare expenses for children under 13

          

Tax Calculation

Person One Person Two Couple Tax as two individuals
Earnings
Capital gains/dividends
Social Security benefits
Other taxable income Tax as a married couple
Adjusted Gross Income
Personal exemptions
Deductions
Taxable Income
Regular Tax
Unearned Income Medicare Contribution
AMT Liability
Total Pre-credit tax Difference as a Percent of Couple's AGI
Child tax credit
EITC
Childcare tax credit
Tax Net of Credits


Main Tax Calculator

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