What are the advantages of filing your tax return jointly?

It's nearly one month into tax season and some married taxpayers, especially newlyweds, may be wondering if it's worth filing a joint tax return.

Married filing jointly is one of five filing statuses taxpayers can choose from. Filing a joint tax return means a person and their spouse report their combined income, credits and deductions. This also means that both people are responsible for any tax due.

The other filing status married couples can choose when filing Form 1040 is married filing separately. Most married taxpayers choose to file a joint return since it can give them access to more tax credits and larger tax deductions.

Couples qualify for married filing jointly status as long as they were married by Dec. 31 of the tax year they're filing for.

Who can use the married filing jointly status?

In most cases, people who are married can use this status, but certain life circumstances may affect eligibility to file a joint tax return.

Divorce: If a person were married, but their divorce or separation was legally finalized during the tax year, the IRS considers that person unmarried for the entire tax year, and they can’t choose married filing jointly as their filing status.

Annulment: If a person's marriage is annulled, they must file an amended tax return for certain years affected by the annulment. But note the statute of limitations, which is three years after filing an original return or two years after a person paid the tax, whichever is later.

Death of a spouse: If a person's spouse died during the tax year or before filing their tax return, the IRS considers them married for the whole tax year, and they can choose married filing jointly as their filing status. If a person remarries the year of their spouse's death, they can't file jointly with their deceased spouse — that person must file either jointly or separately with their new spouse.

If a spouse dies and a person has a dependent, that person might be able to file as a qualifying widower for two tax years after their spouse's death. This status allows one to reap the benefits of a higher standard deduction and a more favorable tax bracket than they would with a single filing status. Check with a tax preparer or a certified public accountant if unsure whether this applies.

Tax credits

One big advantage of filing a joint return is that a person may qualify for certain tax credits they wouldn’t be able to claim under the married filing separately status.

Generally, a person can’t claim the following credits using the married filing separately status:

• Earned income tax credit: Low-to-moderate-income taxpayers may be able to claim up to $8,046 on 2025 tax returns filed in 2026.
• Child and dependent care credit: People caring for a child under 13 or a dependent with a disability can claim up to $2,100.
• American Opportunity tax credit: Taxpayers can claim this credit for qualified education expenses, up to a maximum of $2,500.
• Lifetime learning credit: This credit covers certain education costs up to a maximum of $2,000.

There are some exceptions to this rule, so check the IRS website about credits and deductions to see which credits one qualifies for given a specific tax situation.

Standard deduction

Most taxpayers can choose between itemizing and taking the standard deduction on their tax returns.

Joint filers get a higher standard deduction amount than single filers, heads of households and those married filing separately because they are allowed to combine their individual benefits.

The 2025 standard deduction for married couples filing jointly is $31,500, which applies to taxes filed in April.

Married filing jointly versus separately

Although it’s typically beneficial for most married couples to file a joint tax return, the IRS recommends running the numbers for both scenarios — married filing jointly and married filing separately — to see which option gives you the lower combined tax bill.

A person may consider filing separately if:

• They have an income-based student loan repayment plan. Filing separately could lower adjusted gross income, which could lower their monthly bill. However, consider this carefully and do the math. Certain education tax credits aren’t available to married couples filing separate returns.
• They have large, unreimbursed medical bills. Since one can only deduct medical bills that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income, a person might be able to deduct a greater amount by filing separately and reducing their adjusted gross income.
• They and their spouse have a specific tax situation. If a spouse has overdue taxes that their partner doesn't want to be held liable for; if a person is in the middle of a divorce or if a person feels their spouse is being dishonest about tax information, filing separately could make sense.