Your tax filing status generally depends on being married or unmarried on the last day of the year – which means that your marital status as of December 31, 2024, determines your tax filing options for all of 2024.
For filing purposes, the IRS generally considers you as married if you are separated but not legally separated or divorced at the end of the year. Marriage status can determine filing requirements, standard deductions, eligibility for certain credits, and how you are taxed.
Here are a few things you should do if your marital status changed in 2024.
Report a name change
Report any name changes to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The name on your tax return must match what’s on file at the SSA. If the name doesn’t match, it could delay your tax refund. To update your information, go to the SSA’s website and look for “Change name with Social Security.” Name changes can also be processed by calling the SSA at 800-772-1213 or by visiting a local SSA office.
Update address
Notify the U.S. Postal Service, any employers, and the IRS of an address change.
Check withholding
A change in your marital status may also affect how much tax should be withheld from your paycheck. To avoid a surprise at tax time, you should use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to calculate your withholding and then use that estimate to complete a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, to give to your employer. You can also use Form W-4 to tell an employer not to withhold any federal income tax. To qualify for this exempt status, you must have had no tax liability for the previous year and must expect to have no tax liability for the current year.
Review filing status
If you were newly married in 2024, you will want to review your filing status options. You can choose to file your federal income taxes jointly or separately each year, so it’s a good idea to figure the tax both ways to find out which makes the most sense. Remember that if a couple is married as of December 31, the law says that couple is married for the whole year for tax purposes.