When you start a new job, you'll usually be asked to fill out a W-4 form, otherwise known as an Employee's Withholding Certificate. With the information you supply, your employer will calculate how much money to withhold from your paychecks to cover your federal income taxes when they come due.
The first section of the W-4 form asks whether you are "single or married filing separately," "married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)," or "head of household." Which box you check will determine the amount that is withheld from your pay as estimated taxes.
Key Takeaways
- IRS Form W-4, which you file with your employer when you start a job, is used by your employer to calculate how much to withhold from your paycheck to cover taxes.
- The form asks whether you are single or married, whether you have any dependents and, if so, how many.
- In general, married couples who file their taxes jointly will have less withheld from their paychecks than single filers.
Single Withholding vs. Married Withholding
The three boxes on the W-4 form (single or married filing separately, married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er), and head of household) correspond to the five filing statuses taxpayers can choose from when they complete their annual Form 1040 tax returns.
Single taxpayers have two main options: Filing as a single filer or, if they are unmarried and support a qualifying person, filing as a head of household (HOH). Those who have lost a spouse during the tax year, meanwhile, indicate this by checking the qualifying widow(er) box.
Married taxpayers can opt to file jointly on the same tax return or separately on different tax returns—whichever is more advantageous in their situation. In most cases, filing a joint tax return will result in a lower tax bill.
Which box you check on your W-4 will determine your standard deduction and the tax rates that are used to calculate your withholding.
All else being equal, married taxpayers who plan to file jointly will have a smaller percentage of their pay withheld than singles or people with other statuses.
If your marital status changes, you'll want to submit a new W-4 form so your employer can adjust your tax withholding.
2023 and 2024 Standard Deductions and Tax Rates
The portion of income not subject to tax for single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately is $13,850 for the 2023 tax year and $14,600 for the 2024 tax year. Married individuals filing jointly get double that allowance, with a standard deduction of $27,700 in 2023 and $29,200 in 2024.
Similarly, singles are taxed at the lowest marginal tax rate of 10% on their first $11,000 in income in the 2023 tax year, increasing to $11,600 in the 2024 tax year. Married couples filing jointly are taxed at the 10% rate on their first $22,000 in income during the 2023 tax year, increasing to $23,200 for 2024.
At higher marginal tax brackets, married taxpayers continue to benefit.
How Dependents Fit in
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) substantially redesigned the W-4 form in 2008, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the personal exemption. So, if you haven't filled out a W-4 in a few years, you will find it looks very different today.
Notably, the form no longer asks you to calculate (or guess at) your number of withholding allowances. Instead, taxpayers whose income is under $400,000 (for married individuals filing jointly) or $200,000 (for other filing statuses) are instructed to multiply their number of qualifying children under age 17 by $2,000 and any other dependents by $500 and enter those dollar figures on the form.
Using that information, plus your filing status, your employer will calculate how much to withhold from your pay.
Other Considerations
Bear in mind that if you have more money withheld from your paycheck than is necessary, you should get it back later as a tax refund. But if you have too little withheld, you may face an unexpected tax bill at filing time as well as an underpayment penalty.
It's wise to file out a new W-4 with your employer when your circ*mstances change, such as switching from "single" to "married” or vice versa. You'll avoid the headache of having too much or too little withheld from your paycheck.
TheIRS Tax Withholding Estimatorcan help you determine if you're underpaying or overpaying. If so, you should fill out a new W-4.
Can I Withhold As Single If I'm Married?
Yes, you can file as a married individual filing separately, but it may not be beneficial to do so.
There are rare cases in which filing separately makes sense financially—such as when one spouse is eligible for substantial itemizable deductions.
Otherwise, joint returns usually yield greater tax breaks.
To determine which option is best for you, run some calculations on the IRS worksheets and maybe talk to a tax professional.
Is Filing Single the Same As Filing As Head of Household?
No, filing single is not the same as filing head of household. A person filing as the head of household must be single, cover 50% or more of the expenses of a household, and have a qualifying dependent.
If you meet these criteria, you’re better off filing as a head of household because you'll get preferential tax treatment.
Do I Get a Bigger Tax Refund If I File As Married Filing Jointly?
In most cases, you will get a bigger refund or a lower tax bill if you file jointly with your spouse. However, there are a few situations in which filing separately can be more advantageous, including when one spouse has significant miscellaneous deductions or medical expenses.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right filing status is important to avoiding underpaying or overpaying your taxes all year long. Make sure you examine which status applies to you before checking the box and, if two of them apply, look into which one can save you more money.
Tax forms tend to be confusing, so if you find yourself stuck, don’t be embarrassed to ask your employer or a tax professional for help.
