Just married? Be sure to inform your employers of your new marital status and any name or address changes. Name changes should also be reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as soon as possible.
Tax brackets, tax rates, and deductions for married couples are different from singles. Review your tax withholding and submit an updated W-4 to your employers within ten days of marriage. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to help you determine the correct withholding amount or ask your CPA to do a tax projection.
The filing status you use on this year’s tax return is based upon your marital status as of December 31, whether you opt to file separately or jointly. Married people may not choose the filing status of single. If your name changed, but you have not informed the SSA, your may need to use your unmarried name on the tax return, so it is not rejected by the IRS computers which match data with the SSA.
The IRS has a tax checklist for newlyweds to help you with this process.
Associate Partner
Julie has over 20 years of experience in public and private accounting, representing varied clientele including the medical, legal, and real estate industries and trusts.
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