IRS Tax Update: How Getting Married Could Affect Your Refund in 2025?

If you’re planning a wedding in 2025, congratulations! While you’re probably thinking more about venues, dresses, and guest lists, there’s another important consideration that deserves your attention: your taxes. Yes, getting married doesn’t just change your last name or your living arrangement—it can also significantly affect your tax situation. Whether you’re newly engaged or tying the knot soon, understanding how marriage impacts your tax refund is essential to avoid surprises and make the most of your new financial partnership.

Why Marriage Affects Your Taxes

When two people get married, they combine not just their lives, but also their financial profiles. The IRS looks at your marital status as of December 31 of any tax year to determine your filing status. This means even if you get married on December 31, you’re considered married for the entire year for tax purposes. This can affect everything from your tax bracket to your eligibility for certain credits and deductions.

Filing Status: Married Filing Jointly vs. Married Filing Separately

One of the first decisions you’ll make after getting married is how to file your taxes. Married couples can choose between two filing statuses: “Married Filing Jointly” (MFJ) and “Married Filing Separately” (MFS). Let’s explore what each means and which one might be better for your situation.

Married Filing Jointly (MFJ)

Most married couples opt to file jointly. This filing status typically comes with the most benefits, including a higher standard deduction and access to more tax credits. In 2025, the standard deduction for couples filing jointly is expected to rise to $30,000—a helpful increase from $29,200 in 2024. This deduction reduces your taxable income, which may lower the amount of tax you owe or even increase your refund.

Filing jointly also gives you access to more favorable tax brackets. For example, in 2025, a couple can earn up to $206,700 before they enter the 24% tax bracket. In contrast, single filers hit the same bracket at $103,350. This broader income threshold can be particularly advantageous for dual-income households, allowing you to retain more of your combined earnings.

Married Filing Separately (MFS)

Though less common, some couples choose to file separately. This might make sense if one partner has high medical expenses, miscellaneous deductions, or significant student loan repayments under income-driven plans. However, filing separately often leads to higher taxes and the loss of valuable credits. For instance, couples who file separately usually can’t claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the full Child Tax Credit. Also, the standard deduction is cut in half—$15,000 in 2025—compared to the joint filing amount.

So, unless there’s a compelling reason to file separately, most couples will benefit more from the joint option.

How Your Tax Bracket Changes

When you get married, your combined income determines your tax bracket. These brackets determine the percentage of your income that is taxed. For 2025, here’s how the federal tax brackets break down for couples filing jointly:

• 10% on income up to $22,000
• 12% on income from $22,001 to $89,450
• 22% on income from $89,451 to $206,700
• 24% on income from $206,701 to $416,700
• 32% on income from $416,701 to $522,300
• 35% on income from $522,301 to $626,100
• 37% on income over $626,100

These wider brackets often help married couples avoid the dreaded “marriage penalty,” where combining incomes pushes them into a higher tax bracket. But if both spouses earn high incomes individually, they could see a higher tax bill than they would have paid as single filers. That’s where calculating both filing options or talking to a tax professional can help.

Adjusting Your Withholding After Marriage

Once you’re married, it’s smart to review and update your tax withholding. This ensures you’re not having too much or too little tax withheld from your paychecks. Both spouses should fill out a new Form W-4 with their employers. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is a handy tool to help you figure out the right amount to withhold based on your new joint income and potential deductions.

Failing to adjust your withholding could mean a surprise tax bill in April or a smaller-than-expected refund. On the flip side, overpaying throughout the year isn’t ideal either—that’s money you could have used or invested.

Key Tax Credits for Married Couples

One of the best parts of filing jointly is access to tax credits that can lower your tax liability and boost your refund.

1. Child Tax Credit (CTC)

If you have children, the Child Tax Credit is a major benefit. In 2025, the maximum refundable portion of the CTC is $1,700 per qualifying child. Married couples with income below a certain threshold (which increases when filing jointly) can qualify for the full credit. This credit directly reduces your tax bill and can even result in a refund if it exceeds your taxes owed.

2. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Designed for low-to-moderate-income families, the EITC can offer a substantial refund boost. In 2025, a married couple with three or more children may receive up to $8,046. Income limits vary depending on the number of children, and the credit phases out as income increases. Best of all, the EITC is refundable, meaning you get money back even if you don’t owe taxes.

3. Adoption Credit

Adopting a child in 2025? The IRS offers a credit of up to $17,280 per child to help cover expenses like legal fees, travel, and agency costs. This credit isn’t refundable, but it can still reduce your tax liability significantly, and any unused credit can be carried forward to future years.

What Is the Marriage Penalty?

Although getting married generally provides tax benefits, there’s a situation known as the “marriage penalty.” This happens when two high-income individuals get married, and their combined income pushes them into a higher tax bracket than they would be in as single filers. For example, if each spouse earns $300,000, their combined income ($600,000) may push them into the 35% or 37% tax bracket.

In such cases, they might end up owing more in taxes together than they would separately. The good news is that the tax code has been adjusted in recent years to reduce this penalty for most middle-income couples.

Real-Life Example

Let’s say Alex and Taylor are getting married in mid-2025. Alex earns $80,000 a year, and Taylor earns $60,000. Filing jointly, they’ll fall into the 22% tax bracket. With the new $30,000 standard deduction, their taxable income is significantly reduced, and they become eligible for tax credits like the CTC and possibly the EITC (depending on children and other factors). Together, they could save thousands compared to filing individually.

But if Alex and Taylor each earned $300,000, they would need to carefully calculate the impact of joint vs. separate filing, as the top tax brackets might apply and reduce the advantages of combining incomes.

Should You Work With a Tax Professional?

Tax planning as a married couple can be tricky, especially if you have multiple income sources, own property, or run a small business. A certified tax professional or CPA can help you navigate the details, optimize your filing status, and ensure you’re taking advantage of every deduction and credit available to you.

Final Thoughts

Marriage is a wonderful journey, but it also brings financial changes that you shouldn’t ignore. The IRS views your marital status as a key part of how your taxes are calculated, and the decisions you make now can affect your refund or tax bill next April. Take the time to review your options, update your withholding, and consult a tax expert if needed. With a little planning, you and your spouse can enjoy not just wedded bliss, but also a healthier financial future.

FAQs