Key takeaways
Filing jointly isn’t automatic just because you’re married.
Income gaps, debt, and deductions all affect which filing status saves you more money.
Running married filing jointly versus married filing separately is the only way to know for sure which option works best for your situation.
My spouse and I sat down to do our taxes together for the first time. We’ve been married for almost a year, and honestly, we assumed it would be simple. Just file jointly, right? That’s what married people do.
Then the questions started.
What felt like a two-minute decision turned into a two-hour conversation at the kitchen table. After running the numbers both ways, we landed on the option that worked best for us.
Here are three questions to help you decide how to file.
Is there an income gap?
Start by looking at how much each of you earn. It’s easy to assume that combining incomes will automatically push you into the higher tax bracket. That sounds logical. Add two incomes together, pay more taxes, right? Not exactly.
Married couples don’t use the same tax brackets as single filers. The income ranges for married filing jointly are wider than for married filing separately. That can actually work in your favor, especially if one of you makes quite a bit more than the other.
If there’s a noticeable income gap, it’s one of the first things worth checking.
What deductions are in play?
Some deductions hit differently depending on how you file. For example, mortgage interest and charitable giving often favor filing jointly because you can combine them into one larger deduction. If you recently bought a home together, the mortgage interest deduction alone could make joint filing the clear winner.
Medical expenses work differently, too. The IRS only lets you deduct medical costs that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. If one of you has significant medical bills, filing separately can sometimes make it easier to reach that threshold.
These are just a few deductions that can change what you owe or get back.
Do either of you carry a specific kind of debt?
This question catches some couples off guard.
If your spouse owes back taxes, unpaid child support, or defaulted student loans, the government can take your joint refund to cover it. Filing separately protects your portion of any refund.
On the flip side, if neither of you have that kind of debt, this one’s probably a non-issue.
Should you file taxes jointly or separately? Here’s the bottom line
Taxes might not be the most romantic conversation — but transparency is.
Filing jointly or separately isn’t about what married couples are “supposed” to do. It’s about understanding your income, deductions, and any outstanding debt — and choosing the option that makes the most financial sense for your situation.
That conversation often overlaps with other financial decisions couples make together. Taking time to talk it through now can help prevent surprises later — and help you move forward with confidence.
Just married? Use our Life Events Calculator to see if filing jointly saves you money.
