Household Income
Maybe combining your paychecks will put you into a higher tax bracket, and maybe it won’t (talk to your accountant who can do the math for you). Keep in mind that if one of you isn’t working, you’d stay in the same bracket but with two deductions instead of one -- a tax-time blessing.

Where You File
State income tax varies depending on where you file, and some states -- Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming -- don’t have state income taxes. But here’s where you’ll have to hustle: If you’ve lived in two different states during the year, you have to file in both.

Your Housing Situation
If you own your home, you’ll be able to deduct the interest on all mortgage payments. However, the increase in taxes from your new tax bracket may negate these deductions, depending on the size of the mortgage and your combined incomes.

The Bottom Line
You’re not married to a joint tax return. If, after taking it out for a test run, it doesn’t work for you, don’t worry, you can always file separately next year.

-- Judy Dutton

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