You think wedding planning is hard? Try untangling your taxes afterward.
Meet Terry and Sam. They just had a beautiful spring wedding in Alexandria, Virginia. Between choosing florals and managing seating charts, they forgot one tiny detail: how marriage reshapes your entire tax landscape. If you’re like them—recently married or planning to be—this guide from JS Morlu will help you avoid common pitfalls and understand what Uncle Sam expects from newlyweds.
1. Filing Status: One Ring to Rule Them All
Whether you say “I do” in January or December, the IRS considers you married for the full year. You can no longer file as “Single” or “Head of Household” (unless specific conditions apply). Your new choices?
- Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) – Often the most tax-efficient.
- Married Filing Separately (MFS) – Can trigger penalties, especially in community property states like California or Texas.
If there’s a prenup involved or unresolved financial liabilities from your partner, MFS might make sense—but proceed carefully.
2. Standard Deduction: Double the Love, Double the Deduction?
In 2025, the standard deduction is $30,000 for married couples filing jointly (versus $15,000 each when single). If you both used to take the standard deduction, you’re golden. But if one of you itemized and the other didn’t, marriage might lower your deduction potential.
Pro tip: Sit down and re-crunch those numbers, especially if one of you used to file as Head of Household.
3. Beware the Ghosts of Taxes Past
Does your spouse owe back taxes, unpaid child support, or state unemployment overpayments? Joint refunds can get hijacked by the IRS. You can reclaim your share with an Injured Spouse Allocation (Form 8379)—but better to know before the surprise.
4. Double the Income, Double the Trouble?
Two incomes can catapult you into a higher tax bracket and cause tax benefits to phase out:
- Childcare credit drops as combined income exceeds $400,000.
- Earned Income Tax Credit? Might vanish entirely.
- Roth IRA eligibility? That gets complicated.
- Social Security could become taxable.
- Medical deductions get tougher to claim.
Sadly, filing separately doesn’t solve these issues—Congress made sure of that.
5. Health Insurance Got Hitched Too
If either of you use the Marketplace (ACA) for health insurance, your joint income affects the Premium Tax Credit. You could owe back some of those subsidies when you file. Oh—and if either of you were on a parent’s plan? They need to update their coverage ASAP.
6. IRA Options Just Expanded
Good news: if only one of you works, you may qualify for a Spousal IRA. For 2025, that means up to $14,000 in deductible contributions (or $16,000 if you’re both 50+). But watch out—deductions phase out if the working spouse has a retirement plan.
7. Capital Loss Limitations Shrink
Single filers can each deduct up to $3,000 in capital losses. Married couples? Only $3,000 total. Ouch. If you’re an active investor, that’s worth planning around.
8. Your Parents Can’t Claim You Anymore
If Mom and Dad have been listing you as a dependent or claiming education credits, marriage changes that. You’re off their return, and any education credits must now go on your own.
9. State Return Rules Can Be Sticky
Many states require your federal and state filing status to match. So your choice impacts both returns—and potentially your bottom line. Virginia, for instance, follows this rule.
Post-Wedding To-Do List (Besides Thank You Notes)
✅ Update Social Security Info
Changed your name? Notify the Social Security Administration. A mismatch with the IRS can delay your refund.
✅ Update the IRS
New address? File Form 8822 to let the IRS know where to find you.
✅ Notify USPS
Ensure your mail (including IRS letters) follows you to your new home.
✅ Adjust Your Withholding
Run a paycheck analysis using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. Two incomes might mean you need more withheld—or that you’re overpaying.
✅ Notify the Health Insurance Marketplace
Changing marital status affects your ACA plan and subsidies. Update them ASAP to avoid overpayments or repayment issues.
Why It Matters (and How JS Morlu Can Help)
At JS Morlu, we know how joyful—and financially tricky—marriage can be. Our personalized tax planning services help newlyweds:
- Optimize their new filing strategy
- Minimize liabilities across federal and state returns
- Adjust withholdings to avoid year-end surprises
- Integrate tax-efficient financial planning for the future
If you’re tying the knot this year (or just did), let’s make sure your tax life is as blissful as your marriage. Schedule a free consultation today and discover how we can help you avoid tax traps and start your financial journey together with confidence.
