Tools
Marriage Tax & W-4 Optimizer
Getting married changes your taxes immediately. See your marriage bonus or penalty, then get a specific W-4 action plan for both partners.
Tools
Getting married changes your taxes immediately. See your marriage bonus or penalty, then get a specific W-4 action plan for both partners.
Partner A
Additional income
Partner B
Additional income
Your situation
Financial checklist
Other financial tasks to handle after getting married.
File an updated W-4 as soon as possible. Your pre-marriage withholding is almost certainly wrong. IRS W-4 form →
Update beneficiary designations on 401k, IRA, pension, and life insurance. These pass outside your will and may still name an ex or your parents.
If either partner changed their name, notify the SSA before filing your first tax return together. A name mismatch delays processing. SS-5 form →
Marriage is a qualifying life event. Compare adding a spouse to your plan vs. keeping separate plans during open enrollment.
If either partner has federal student loans on IDR (SAVE, PAYE, IBR), filing jointly vs. separately changes the payment calculation. MFS can lower payments but costs more in taxes.
Medical expenses are deductible above 7.5% of AGI. If one partner has very high medical costs, their lower individual AGI under MFS may allow larger deductions. Run the numbers or consult a CPA.
Your first joint return is due April of next year. If your situation is complex (SE income, rental, investments), consider a CPA for year one. IRS Withholding Estimator →