Updated for tax year 2025.
People often talk about the tax benefits of getting married — but that doesn’t mean unmarried people are out of luck when it comes to getting the most back on their taxes.
In fact, some tax breaks can actually go further when you file as single. Between income-based credits, new deductions from the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), and updated thresholds for 2025, single taxpayers may find their filing status gives them a few unexpected advantages during tax refund season.
To celebrate Singles Awareness Day, we’ve put together four useful tax benefits for single taxpayers to look forward to for tax year 2025.
1. File as single to simplify your tax prep.
Since your marital status often correlates with your tax filing status, marking yourself as “single” on your dating apps and tax forms usually means your life is less complicated — in more ways than one.
You only need to worry about your own tax documents as a single filer, for one thing. There’s no waiting around for your spouse’s Form W-2 or worrying about someone else misplacing an important form. Once you’ve gathered your documents, you can file your tax return right away, meaning you’ll have your tax refund in your bank account sooner rather than later.
2. Take advantage of tax deductions and credits for single filers.
Sometimes, being a single filer can actually work in your favor when it comes to claiming certain tax breaks. Because your income and eligibility are based solely on your individual earnings — not combined household income — you may qualify for tax credits or deductions that a married couple with the same total income would phase out of.
Here are a few examples:
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
If you’re a single filer with a modest income, you may have an easier time qualifying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) than a couple filing jointly. The EITC is designed to help low- to moderate-income workers reduce their tax bill or even receive a refund — and because the income limits for married couples are only slightly higher, combining your income with a spouse’s can quickly phase you out of eligibility.
For example, a single worker earning around $18,000 may still qualify for the 2025 EITC for workers without children — worth up to $649. But if that same person marries someone earning a similar income and they file jointly, their combined income could easily push them over the married filing jointly 2025 EITC limit of $26,214 for those without kids, meaning they’d no longer qualify for the credit at all.
More potential savings come into play if you’re a single parent. For instance, a single parent with one child earning $50,000 could still qualify for the EITC in 2025, while a married couple with one child and a total household income of $60,000 would see their credit phased out entirely.
In short, if you’re unmarried and your income falls within the EITC range, you might benefit from a larger refund than you would if you were married and filing jointly.
Educational tax credits
If you’re paying tuition or continuing your education, you could benefit from educational tax credits like the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) or the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC). Both credits have income limits that determine eligibility, and being a single filer often makes it easier to qualify.
For instance, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must fall under a certain threshold to claim the AOTC, which offers up to $2,500 for qualified education expenses. Since single filers report only their own income, you might still qualify — while a married couple with the same combined income could phase out of eligibility.
New for 2025: No tax on tips deduction
One of the new features of the Working Families Tax Cut Act (formerly called the One Big Beautiful Bill) is a deduction for tip income and overtime pay. Interestingly, this one includes a potential “marriage penalty” for tipped workers specifically.
Under the new law, you can deduct up to $25,000 of tip income per tax return (not per spouse) each year. For overtime compensation, the deduction is capped at $12,500 per single filer (or $25,000 if filing jointly).
This results in an advantage for single filers earning a lot of tip income, especially if you are dating someone who also earns a lot of tip income. For example, two servers earning most of their income in tips could deduct a combined $50,000 if they remain single, but only $25,000 total if they marry and file jointly. That difference alone could change their total tax bill by thousands of dollars.
3. You might stay in a lower tax bracket than a married couple.
A single filing status can even impact your income tax rates if you are a high earner in the top tax bracket. This is especially true if both you and your significant other (if applicable) are high earners.
For example, let’s look at the top federal income tax rate for 2025, which was 37% for single taxpayers who make at least $626,350. Meanwhile, the same tax rate’s income threshold for married taxpayers filing jointly started at $751,600.
Now, say you and your partner were unmarried, and you each had $400,000 in taxable income, putting you both in the 35% tax bracket for single filers. If you and your partner filed as married filing jointly, your combined total income would be $800,000, putting you in the top bracket of 37 %, essentially meaning you both would pay more in taxes.
4. Avoid unpleasant surprises when filing your taxes.
Many of us have difficulty knowing how our taxes will change when our tax status changes. As a single filer, you often know what to expect, and you’ve likely become accustomed to managing your personal tax situation. But once you’re married, any tax debts your spouse owes become your tax liability as well, if you file jointly.
Even if your partner doesn’t owe back taxes, a sudden change in your filing status can yield unexpected results for many newlyweds. For example, let’s say you got married early in the year, and neither of you updated your Form W-4 withholding to reflect your new tax status. Sometimes, this leads to not withholding enough income tax. Suddenly, instead of getting the tax refund you are used to during tax season, you and your spouse may end up owing a tax bill instead.
Whenever you experience a significant life event, like getting married or having a child, make sure to review your tax withholding to ensure it’s accurate.
Filing status: It’s (less) complicated
If you’re unmarried and don’t qualify for another tax status (such as head of household), that doesn’t mean you’re at a disadvantage when filing taxes. When you only need to account for yourself, you can minimize unwelcome surprises, file more quickly, and possibly score additional tax deductions or tax credits to lower your federal tax liability.
Don’t forget, you can also use tools such as a taxable income calculator, a tax document checklist, and step-by-step tax software like TaxAct® to better prepare and help you file.
Here’s to embracing the single life … and the less complicated taxes that come with it!
This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.
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The OBBB is now also being referred to by lawmakers as the Working Families Tax Cut Act. You may see one or both names used here, but they refer to the same set of tax changes.
