# Singles: Why No Protest of Singles Tax? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900 "2013-04-17T02:15:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/1 "2013-04-17T02:15:34Z")
I haven’t looked at the tax tables in a long time since i became married filing jointly, but I recently took a second look. It appears that single people still pay more tax than married people. Why is this? And, why aren’t single people more outraged about this, esp in this dawn of marriage equality. Aren’t singles entitled to the same rights? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/2 "2013-04-17T02:25:24Z")
In my experience if both members of a married couple are working, they pay a higher tax rate than they would if they weren’t married. Maybe this is why. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/3 "2013-04-17T02:36:16Z")
Why would we be upset about this? Married couples typically operate as a single “unit” financially, so why shouldn’t they be able to combine finances, especially if one works and one doesn’t (or there’s a big income imbalance), and have the deduction and tax rates affected commensurately? Seems pretty fair to me. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/4 "2013-04-17T02:58:56Z")
I think it is unfair, a single person shouldnt be discriminated against for being single ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/5 "2013-04-17T03:31:29Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > I think it is unfair, a single person shouldnt be discriminated against for being single There are three ways taxes could treat a married couple A) just like two single taxpayers with separate incomes B) like one single taxpayer with the same total income C) in some different and so inherently “special” fashion. If A is chosen, then a couple both making $50,0000 would each be in the 25% bracket pay less than a couple in which one makes $100,000 and the other $0 and would be in the 28% bracket. Certainly some would claim this is unfair. Also under A a couple in which one makes $100,000 but lives in a community property state would be treated as if each made $50,000 and so pay less than the same couple in a non-community property state. I believe this was, in fact, the reason that married filing jointly status was first adopted in the U.S. If B is chosen, then a couple both making $50,000 would be taxed at 28% and they wold say it is unfair that there is a marriage penalty since if they were single they’d pay only 25%. If C is chosen, you claim that is unfair. Therefore, there is apparently no tax scheme with progressive rates that everyone would agree is fair. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/6 "2013-04-17T03:58:49Z")
And I know this isnt the same exact thing, but I also find it unfair when a single seems to pay more in other situations. Lets say at a Halloween carnival, (i know, i know, but im tired and this happened, so hey its anexample) where a single person pays five for admission and a family of four pays ten. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/7 "2013-04-17T04:05:00Z")
Because it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/8 "2013-04-17T11:36:14Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > And I know this isnt the same exact thing, but I also find it unfair when a single seems to pay more in other situations. Lets say at a Halloween carnival, (i know, i know, but im tired and this happened, so hey its anexample) where a single person pays five for admission and a family of four pays ten. But that doesn’t really happen, does it? I’ve seen prices set where the more people are involved, the cheaper it is per person (usually on those rides that cost extra or “fast passes” at theme parks ) , but there’s no requirement that the four people who pay the reduced price per person be family or even have met each other before that day. I’ve also seen places where children under certain ages are reduced or free, but a single person bringing a niece/nephew/friend’s child under that age gets the free/reduced admission and the family with children above the specified age gets no discount. I mean, lots of things are advertised as “X dollars for a family of four” but then “family of four” is defined as two adults and two children under some particular age. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/9 "2013-04-17T12:23:37Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > I haven’t looked at the tax tables in a long time since i became married filing jointly, but I recently took a second look. It appears that single people still pay more tax than married people. Why is this? And, why aren’t single people more outraged about this, esp in this dawn of marriage equality. Aren’t singles entitled to the same rights? Doesn’t that only apply to some couples where one partner is a dependant of the other due to not having a paying job or having one that pays very little? If they weren’t married, that income-less person would have to apply for help from the state. Of course, unmarried couples living together get it worse both ways. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/10 "2013-04-17T12:42:14Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > I haven’t looked at the tax tables in a long time since i became married filing jointly, but I recently took a second look. It appears that single people still pay more tax than married people. Why is this? And, why aren’t single people more outraged about this, esp in this dawn of marriage equality. Aren’t singles entitled to the same rights? > [@OldGuy](#): > > Therefore, there is apparently no tax scheme with progressive rates that everyone would agree is fair. I don’t think it’s fair, but like OldGuy says, I’m not more worked up about it because no matter how you structure it it’s going to be “unfair” to someone. I mostly get ticked off when someone rails against the so-called “marriage penalty”, when the majority of married couples actually have a marriage bonus. I also am somewhat annoyed at the marriage bonus given to couples that have unequal incomes, yet no kids. I think that perhaps it would be better to get rid of this marriage bonus, yet increase the deductions for dependents. That way couples with lots of kids – not all of which may have been planned – are not unduly hurt, yet childless couples do not take advantage of both tax bonuses AND the financial bonuses of two people living in one household. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/11 "2013-04-17T13:50:41Z")
I protest. But honestly, the deck is so stacked against single people anyway, I have surrendered all my battles. What’s the use? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/12 "2013-04-17T14:11:51Z")
I could itemize when I was single and get a far bigger deduction and more back. Now married with a wife that makes a decent salary, we are stuck with the standard deduction and our combined taxes are higher. Could we get someone to modify the title to: “Married: Why no protest of marriage penalty”? I guess if we had a couple kids my tune might change. In other words: It all depends on the situation. Singles are not the universal loser in federal income taxation. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/13 "2013-04-17T14:17:19Z")
The whole tax situation is FUBAR, so yeah it’s not fair that singles pay more, but it’s not fair in 1000 other ways too. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/14 "2013-04-17T14:18:27Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > I think it is unfair, a single person shouldnt be discriminated against for being single Call it a “Happiness Tax.” Ow, ow, ow! It was only a joke, honey! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/15 "2013-04-17T14:47:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Call it a “Happiness Tax.” I was thinking “Freedom isn’t free”. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/16 "2013-04-17T14:52:08Z")
We figure it’s fair that we pay some extra taxes in exchange for all the wild sex that you married people gave up. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/17 "2013-04-17T14:58:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > We figure it’s fair that we pay some extra taxes in exchange for all the wild sex that you married people gave up. I didn’t know you were single Nemo! How \*you \*doin’? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/18 "2013-04-17T15:03:01Z")
Any tax savings you garner as a married couple is more than offset by the amount of stupid crap your SO buys. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/19 "2013-04-17T15:55:47Z")
> [@picker](#): > > Any tax savings you garner as a married couple is more than offset by the amount of stupid crap your SO buys. Uh, speaketh from experience? ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900/20 "2013-04-17T16:12:34Z")
Of course. I’m sure she’d say the same about me, though. It’s pretty universal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singles-why-no-protest-of-singles-tax/655900.md?page=2)