Life changes
You Got Married: What Changes on Your Tax Return
Marriage changes your filing status for the whole year, even if the wedding was in the last week of it. A few small updates now keep the first joint return from bringing a surprise.
Reviewed by LaToya Clark-Thompson, FounderLast updated
What changes on your return
The IRS looks at your marital status on the last day of the tax year. If you were married on that day, you are treated as married for the entire year, and you choose between two filing statuses: married filing jointly or married filing separately. Single and head of household are no longer options for that year.
Most couples come out ahead filing jointly. The standard deduction for a joint return is larger, and several credits (the earned income credit and the education credits among them) are either reduced or unavailable when you file separately. Separate returns still make sense in some cases, for example when one spouse is on an income-driven student loan plan, has large medical bills, or simply does not want to be responsible for the other’s return.
Two incomes on one return can also land in a higher bracket than either of you was used to. That is the most common reason a first joint return shows a balance due.
Forms that show up
- Both spouses’ W-2s, 1099s and any Form 1099-R or SSA-1099, all on one return if you file jointly
- Form 1095-A if either of you had Marketplace coverage, reconciled on Form 8962
- Form 1098 and Form 1098-E if either of you pays mortgage or student loan interest
- New W-4 forms with your employers, so withholding reflects the combined income
What to bring to your appointment
- Both of your income documents for the full year, including anything from before the wedding
- Social Security cards, or the name exactly as it appears on each card
- Last year’s returns for both of you, so carryovers and prior elections are not lost
- Any Form 1095-A and the dates each of you joined or left a Marketplace plan
- A list of anything one of you owes the government (back taxes, a defaulted student loan, past-due child support), since that can affect a joint refund
Our tax prep checklist has the full list, and your first appointment explains how the meeting works.
Common mistakes
- Filing under a new last name before Social Security has been updated. The name and number must match Social Security’s records or the return can be rejected.
- Leaving both W-4s on the old single setting. Each employer withholds as if that paycheck were the only income.
- Forgetting the Marketplace. Advance premium credits were set on your old household income. Under current rules, if too much was paid in advance, you can be asked to repay the full excess.
- Filing jointly when one spouse has an old debt the government can offset, without considering Form 8379 (injured spouse allocation).
The W-4 withholding calculator is a good first look at whether your combined withholding is on track.
When it is worth having a preparer
If you both had simple W-2 jobs and no Marketplace coverage, the first joint return is usually straightforward. It is worth having us run it when one of you is self-employed, owns a home or rental, has student loans on an income-based plan, or brings old tax debt into the marriage. We can compare a joint return against separate returns so you see the actual difference before choosing. Start with our individual tax preparation page, and if a move came with the marriage, see moving to South Carolina.
Frequently asked questions
Do I file jointly the year I got married?
You can, and most couples do. If you were married on the last day of the tax year, you are married for the whole year and choose between married filing jointly and married filing separately. The joint return usually produces less tax, but not always. We can prepare both versions and show you the difference before anything is filed. See individual tax preparation.
Should I change my name with Social Security before I file my taxes?
Yes, if you plan to file under your new name. The IRS checks every name and Social Security number against Social Security’s records, and a mismatch can hold up or reject the return. If the update is not finished by the time you file, use the name that is still on your Social Security record and change it the following year.
Why do we owe money on our first joint return?
Usually because each employer withheld as if that job were the household’s only income. Combined, the two salaries reach a higher bracket than either paycheck was taxed at. Updating both W-4 forms, using the multiple jobs step, fixes it going forward. Our page on owing taxes this year walks through the other common causes.
Can my refund be taken for my spouse’s old debt?
It can, if you file jointly and your spouse owes back taxes, past-due child support or certain federal debts. The spouse who does not owe can file Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, to ask for their share of the refund. Tell us about any such debt at your appointment so we can plan for it. See when a refund is taken for debt.
Not the question you had? The full tax FAQ covers more ground, and our client reviews say what the work is actually like.
Related pages
Getting divorced
Filing status, dependents, alimony, retirement splits and the house after a divorce.
Learn moreYou bought a home
Mortgage interest, points, property tax, itemizing and the SC primary residence filing.
Learn moreYou had a baby
Child tax credit, dependent care, filing status and the Social Security number you need first.
Learn moreYou adopted a child
The adoption credit, which expenses qualify, timing rules and getting a tax ID for your child.
Learn moreYou moved to South Carolina
Part-year resident returns, what South Carolina taxes, retirement income and what to bring.
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