Some newlyweds may face a higher tax bill due to a ‘marriage penalty.’ What to know

If you got married in 2022, you can add “tax return” to the list of things you’ll now be sharing.

For some newlyweds, this is going to mean a bigger tax bill due to a so-called “marriage tax penalty.” It can happen when tax-bracket thresholds, deductions and credits are not double the amount allowed for single filers — and it can hurt both high- and low-income households.

“The penalty can be as high as 12% of a married couple’s income,” said Garrett Watson, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation. For marriages taking place at any point last year, spouses are required to file their 2022 tax returns — due April 18 — as a married couple, either jointly or separately. (However, filing separate returns is only financially beneficial for spouses in certain situations.)