I Got Married or Divorced — How My Taxes Change
Filing status, joint vs separate, and how major relationship changes affect your tax situation.
Your filing status is based on December 31
The IRS looks at your marital status on the last day of the year. If you got married on December 30, you're considered married for the entire tax year. If your divorce was finalized on December 31, you're considered single (or head of household if you have dependents) for the entire year.
Source: IRS Publication 501 — Filing Status
Married Filing Jointly is usually better
Most married couples save money by filing jointly. Joint filers get double the standard deduction ($32,200 vs $16,100 for single), wider tax brackets, and access to more credits. Filing separately usually only makes sense if one spouse has significant medical expenses, student loan considerations, or you don't trust your spouse's tax reporting.
Source: IRS Publication 501
Divorce changes everything
After divorce, you'll file as Single or Head of Household (if you have dependents and paid more than half the cost of your home). Only one parent can claim each child as a dependent. Alimony from agreements before 2019 is still deductible/taxable; post-2018 alimony is neither. Property settlements in divorce are generally not taxable events.
Source: IRS Publication 504 — Divorced or Separated Individuals
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Ask a Tax Question →This is tax education, not tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation. Information sourced from publicly available IRS publications.