Married vs Single: How Filing Status Changes Your Take-Home

Your filing status is one of the biggest levers on your federal tax bill. It sets both your standard deduction and the width of your tax brackets — so the same salary can produce very different take-home pay depending on whether you file single or married.

The marriage bonus (one main earner)

Married-filing-jointly brackets are roughly double the single brackets, and the standard deduction is $30,000 vs $15,000 (2025). For a couple where one person earns most of the income, that’s a real saving.

The marriage penalty (two high earners)

The brackets stop being exactly double at the very top. Two high earners who each would sit in a lower bracket alone can be pushed higher when their incomes combine — a “marriage penalty.” It mainly bites dual high-income couples, not most households.

Head of household

If you’re unmarried but support a dependent, head of household gives you a larger standard deduction ($22,500) and wider brackets than single — worth checking if you qualify.

What it doesn’t change

• FICA is per-person and flat (7.65%) regardless of filing status.
• State tax rules vary — some mirror federal status, some don’t.

Compare your own situation

Our calculator lets you switch filing status (single, married, head of household) for any salary — toggle it to see exactly how your take-home changes. For more on how the bands work, see how tax brackets actually work.