Marriage involves a lot of planning: organize a party, find a new house, plan your honeymoon… and update your tax information. If you are getting married soon, here are some tax tips you should keep in mind.
Name Change
If your name changes after getting married, it’s important to notify this change to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Remember that the name on your tax return must match the name the SSA has on file. Otherwise, you might experience delays in getting your tax refunds.
To update your information, fill out and file Form SS-5, which can be found on the SSA official website.
Address Change
More often than not, getting married also means changing your address. If that’s your case, don’t forget to inform the IRS by filling out and filing Form 8822, Change of Address.
As an extra tip, don’t forget to notify the United States Postal Service (USPS) about your change of address. This way you’ll be sure to receive any notifications send by the IRS by traditional mail.
Withholding
After getting married, couples must consider adjusting their withholding, that is, the amount of federal tax that your employer withholds from your paycheck.
By the way, don’t forget that newly married couples must give their employers a new W-4 Form within 10 days!
Your employer uses Form W-4 to witthold the right amount of tax from your paycheck. That’s why it’s important to file a new Form W-4 every year, or every time that your personal situation changes.
Filing Status
It’s worth keeping in mind that married people can choose to file their taxes jointly or separately.
Usually, filing your taxes jointly is the more convenient option. However, it’s a Good idea to calculate your taxes both ways to figure out which one is more convenient.
Finally, remember this useful tip: if a couple is married as of December 31, then they are married for the whole year for tax purposes.
Contact the Tax Experts at Delgado’s Insurance
If you are looking for assistance with your 2020 tax return or your stimulus payment, contact our experts at Delgado’s Insurance. Our mission is to help you make sense of your options to reduce your liability and maximize your deductions while staying compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.
We have locations in Riverside, California, and Bloomington, California. Contact us today by telephone (951-361-0084, 909-421-9003), email (mail@delgadosinsurance.com), or through our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter) to get a free quote and learn more about our wide array of services.
