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If a couple marries during the tax year, they commonly have the option to file Married Filing Jointly for the whole year (assuming eligibility). Most systems treat filing status on a calendar-year basis — your marital status as of the last day of the tax year determines eligible statuses for that whole year. That means marrying in December doesn’t force you to file single for part of the year; instead, many couples can choose the married-filing option for the entire year, which is convenient and often tax-advantageous. Filing jointly can simplify paperwork (a single return) and often yields beneficial tax results because joint brackets, combined credits, and deductions may be more favorable than two separate single returns. It also simplifies claiming dependents and credits that apply to the household.
Before choosing MFJ, consider whether either spouse has unusual circumstances (large deductible medical bills, significant itemizable deductions tied to one spouse, or potential liability issues). In rare cases a couple may prefer Married Filing Separately for legal or financial reasons, but MFJ is the common practical route. Steps after marriage typically include updating W-4s to reflect status and dependents, coordinating withholding to account for combined income, and gathering documents for a single return. If you marry late in the year and have year-end income changes, run quick “married vs single” tax comparisons — many tax tools and preparers will calculate both scenarios so you can pick the filing status that makes the most sense financially and administratively.
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