why is it that single people, who are living together like husband and wife, get so much more back at ax time?

Question

we have about 4 sets of friends, who have less kids than us, they have lived together longer than we have, and have about the same income as we do. they always get at least 2,000 dollars more than us back in taxes just because they havent gotten married. Its like people today get punnished for getting married. Do you think this prevents people from getting married today?

Answer 1

You hit it right on the nose your friends are filing as head of households which gives you a bigger tax break, which encourages certain people not to get married. Simple solution base tax code on solely a individual payee code that way your marital status is irrelevant.

Answer 2

You should have someone else file your taxes. The tax codes are more favorable to married couples. Odds are all of your friends have more withheld during the year, too.

Answer 3

You seem to have only anecdotal and incomplete evidence. There is no longer a "marriage penalty" in IRS tax regs. There is though a "single person" penalty.

Answer 4

Marriage penalty. Democrats refuse to pass legislation to reform the tax code. They would rather deny that it exists. It exists.