...There’s no question that the marriage penalty pains many dual-earner couples. Although Congress has taken steps to reduce it, many middle- and upper-income married couples still pay more than they would if each partner filed separately as a single person. For example, for a couple who each earn about $75,000 and take only a standard deduction, the marriage penalty is about $500, says Mark Steber, vice president of tax resources for Jackson Hewitt. The penalty goes up as incomes rise, to about $787 for a couple making $200,000, for example. The marriage penalty disappears for married couples filing jointly who make roughly equal incomes totaling $132,000 or less, Jackson Hewitt says.

But marriage also conveys many offsetting financial benefits that will endure long after April 15, Mr. Steber says.

Labels: marriage penalty, tax policy

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