Story perspectives

Trump's Tax Law Boosts Joint Filing Benefits for Couples

4/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tax legislation makes filing jointly generally more beneficial for married couples, with a 2025 standard deduction of $31,500 vs $15,750 for separate filers.
Financial planner Gregory Guenther notes that filing separately can benefit high-earning couples in high-tax states, especially for itemized deductions.
Experts caution the choice remains complex and not universally advantageous.
In 2023, over 55.5 million couples filed jointly, while about 4.1 million filed separately.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tax legislation makes filing jointly generally more beneficial for married couples, with a 2025 standard deduction of $31,500 vs $15,750 for separate filers.
Financial planner Gregory Guenther notes that filing separately can benefit high-earning couples in high-tax states, especially for itemized deductions.
Experts caution the choice remains complex and not universally advantageous.
In 2023, over 55.5 million couples filed jointly, while about 4.1 million filed separately.