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Getting Married? Expert Tax Strategies and Considerations for Today’s Newlyweds

Planning a wedding is an exciting milestone, but as many newlyweds in Atlanta and beyond soon discover, marriage launches a cascade of financial and tax considerations that can impact your cash flow, wealth preservation, and even your retirement strategy. As a mentor and trusted advisor to physicians, high-income executives, business owners, and individuals facing significant asset sales, I believe awareness and proactive planning are essential.

Key Tax Factors to Review Before You Say "I Do"

  1. Filing Status – The IRS assesses your marital status based on December 31st. No matter how late in the year you wed, you’re considered married that full tax year. Your new choices: Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) or Married Filing Separately (MFS). While MFJ often offers more favorable tax brackets, the MFS status comes with critical limitations and is especially complex in community property states like Georgia’s neighbors Louisiana and Texas. If you have a prenup, review its implications with your accountant—it could dictate the best filing route.
  2. Standard vs. Itemized Deductions – For 2025, the standard deduction increases to $30,000 for couples. If you previously itemized as an individual, there may be a loss in deductible expenses, especially if only one spouse qualified to itemize pre-marriage. Pay special attention if either of you previously claimed Head of Household status, as that deduction is no longer available post-nuptials.
  3. Spouse’s Past Liabilities – If your new spouse owes back taxes, state debts, or past-due child support, your future joint refunds could be used to satisfy those balances. To protect your share, consider submitting an Injured Spouse Allocation to the IRS.
  4. Income Pooling – Combining incomes can elevate your marginal tax rate, phasing out credits like the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit, and activating the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax. Higher earnings may also impact eligibility for Roth IRAs, the deductible portion of traditional IRAs, and expose Social Security income to taxation. Image 1
  5. Health Insurance & Premium Tax Credits – Purchasing insurance on a health exchange or Marketplace? Marriage changes household size and combined income, often reducing your premium tax credit or requiring payback of advance subsidies. Coordination is also necessary if either of you remain on a parent’s Marketplace plan.
  6. Spousal IRAs – Filing jointly allows for a spousal IRA, even for a nonworking spouse. For 2025, that’s $7,000 per spouse (plus $1,000 catch-up for age 50+), but phaseouts may apply if either is covered by an employer’s retirement plan.
  7. Capital Loss Limitations – Unmarried individuals may each claim $3,000 in capital losses annually ($6,000 combined), but marriages cap this at $3,000 jointly.
  8. Parental Tax Benefits – If your parents have historically claimed you as their dependent, they generally lose that tax benefit (including education-related credits) upon your marriage and change in dependency status.
  9. State Tax Implications – States like Georgia require you to use the same federal and state filing status. When modeling scenarios, ensure you analyze both federal and Georgia-specific impacts for optimal results.

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Proactive Steps to Take After "I Do"

  1. Name Change? Notify Social Security – To avoid IRS refund delays, promptly update your name with the Social Security Administration. Mismatches between your new name and your SSN can halt tax refund processing. You can handle this online or at your local SSA office.
  2. Address Change? Notify the IRS – Moved in together? Update your address with the IRS using Form 8822. This protects against missed refunds or critical tax notices.
  3. Update the USPS – File a change of address with USPS to ensure all state and federal tax correspondence finds you quickly. Start here.
  4. Review Your Withholding and Payments – Marriages almost always disrupt your tax withholding formulas. If both spouses work, you may need to increase withholding (adjust Form W-4) or estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties. The IRS W-4 Calculator can help you plan efficiently.
  5. Notify Health Insurance Marketplace – Any adjustment in marital status must be reported to the health insurance Marketplace to avoid year-end surprises and compliance issues.
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Joint vs. Separate Filing—A Caution for High-Earners & Asset Sellers

For Atlanta physicians, business owners, and anyone facing the sale of high-value assets, choosing the correct filing status is about more than rates—it affects eligibility for tax credits (like the Qualified Business Income Deduction), phaseouts, and even audit risks. While separate filing offers protection from a spouse’s past tax debt or liability, it generally triggers higher combined taxes and forfeits opportunities for certain deductions and credits. Your choice should be coordinated with your accountant and reflect both federal and state tax rules specific to Georgia and your income profile.

Final Thoughts

Marriage isn’t just a union of two people—it’s the merger of two financial lives. With thoughtful planning and professional tax mitigation advice, you can minimize surprise bills, maximize deductions, and move forward with clarity. If you are ready for insights tailored to your specific financial situation—whether you’re a medical professional, business owner, or executive—let’s chart a tax-smart path together. Click on the button to schedule a 15-minute discovery call.

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