Forgot to update W-4 marital status after getting married. How screwed are we for tax filing?

Actually, you might be pleasantly surprised! Having your W-4 set to "Single" typically results in MORE tax being withheld than if you had selected "Married" - so you may end up with a refund rather than owing money. When you file your taxes, you'll file based on your actual marital status as of December 31, 2024 - which is married. You have two options: married filing jointly (MFJ) or married filing separately (MFS). For most couples, filing jointly provides better tax benefits. The withholding on your paychecks throughout the year is just an estimate of what you'll owe. Your actual tax liability is determined when you file, regardless of what was on your W-4. So while you should definitely update your W-4s now for 2025, for 2024 you're likely in better shape than you think!

I went through something similar last year after forgetting to update my withholding status! I found an amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out the best filing strategy. I was also worried about having the wrong withholding all year, but the tool analyzed our tax situation and showed we were actually over-withheld like the previous commenter mentioned. The tool lets you upload your W-2s and other tax documents, then it compares filing jointly vs. separately to show which gives you the better outcome. It even explained why we were getting a refund despite the wrong W-4 status. Seriously saved us a ton of stress during an already stressful tax season!

Just wanted to update after trying out taxr.ai from the recommendation above. It was exactly what I needed! Uploaded our W-2s and it confirmed we were actually over-withholding by having our W-4s set to "Single" all year. We're getting a $2,800 refund instead of owing money like I feared. The tool also showed that married filing jointly saves us about $1,200 compared to filing separately in our situation. It explained everything in simple terms and even pointed out some deductions we were missing. Definitely check it out if you're in a similar situation - made me feel a lot less stressed about the whole thing!

If you're still worried about your tax situation, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually speak with an IRS agent. I was in a similar situation with incorrect withholding and had questions that weren't answered by online research or tax software. I tried calling the IRS directly multiple times but kept getting the "high call volume" message and couldn't get through. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. The agent confirmed that having "Single" withholding while married usually results in a refund, not a bill. They also explained exactly how to update our W-4s properly for next year. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it seriously saved me hours of frustration!

I have to eat my words and apologize to Profile 5. After being skeptical about Claimyr, I was desperate enough to try it when I needed to verify some information about my withholding situation. Holy crap it actually worked! I got connected to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes, which is nothing compared to my previous attempts. The agent confirmed that withholding at the single rate while married typically results in a refund, not owing money. She also walked me through exactly how to fill out our new W-4s correctly for this year. For anyone in a similar situation, definitely give it a shot. Saved me a ton of frustration and I got clear answers straight from the IRS instead of trying to interpret confusing information online.

One additional thing to consider: If you and your wife both work and make decent incomes, the "marriage penalty" could still apply to you depending on your combined income level. This happens when two relatively equal high earners get married and end up in a higher tax bracket together than they would have separately. But the single withholding likely helped counteract this if it applies to your situation. Either way, run the numbers both ways (married filing jointly vs. married filing separately) before submitting your return. Though MFJ is usually better for most couples.

Has anyone here actually seen a scenario where forgetting to change W4 status from Single to Married after getting married resulted in owing taxes? Everything I'm reading says the opposite (that Single withholds more)...

I'm a tax preparer and see this situation ALL the time - you're actually in a really good spot! The "Single" withholding rate takes out significantly more tax per paycheck than "Married" withholding does. This is because the tax brackets for married filing jointly are roughly double the single brackets, so married couples can earn more before hitting higher tax rates. With your combined income of ~$145k, you'll almost certainly want to file married filing jointly. The standard deduction for MFJ in 2024 is $29,200 (vs $14,600 for single filers), so you're getting double the deduction benefit right off the bat. Don't stress about the W-4 mistake - it actually worked in your favor! Update them for 2025, but for 2024 you're likely looking at a nice refund rather than owing anything. I'd estimate you're probably over-withheld by $2,000-4,000 based on your income levels, but run the actual numbers to be sure.

This is actually a really common mistake that newlyweds make, and like others have mentioned, you're probably in much better shape than you think! I made the same error when I got married a few years ago and was terrified we'd owe a fortune. The key thing to understand is that your W-4 withholding status only affects how much tax is taken out of your paychecks during the year - it doesn't determine how you can file your return. Since you were married as of December 31, 2024, you can (and should) file as married. With your combined income of about $145k, married filing jointly will almost certainly be your best option. The tax brackets for MFJ are essentially double those for single filers, plus you get a much higher standard deduction ($29,200 vs $14,600 each if you were single). The irony is that by forgetting to update your W-4s, you've been having MORE tax withheld all year than you actually need to pay. Most couples in your situation end up with a substantial refund rather than owing money. Just make sure to update your W-4s for 2025 so you're not giving the government an interest-free loan next year!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in payroll - this mistake is incredibly common and you're definitely not alone! We see this all the time with newly married employees who forget to update their W-4s. The good news is that the IRS withholding tables for "Single" are designed to be more conservative (meaning they take out more tax) precisely because single filers don't get the benefit of married filing jointly brackets and deductions. So you've essentially been overpaying all year. One tip for the future: when you update your W-4s for 2025, consider using the IRS withholding calculator on their website (irs.gov) to get the most accurate withholding amounts. This will help you avoid both overpaying (like you did this year) and underpaying in future years. The calculator takes into account both spouses' incomes and helps optimize your withholding. You should definitely breathe easier - this "mistake" likely saved you from having to make estimated quarterly payments that many married couples with similar incomes sometimes need to make!

As someone who went through this exact same situation two years ago, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you're actually in great shape! My husband and I both forgot to update our W-4s after getting married and were withholding as single all year. We were terrified we'd owe a huge amount. Turns out we got back almost $4,000! Our tax preparer explained that the single withholding rate is much more aggressive than married withholding, so we had essentially been overpaying taxes all year long. When we filed married filing jointly, we qualified for better tax brackets and a higher standard deduction, which made our refund even larger. The key thing to remember is that your actual tax liability is based on your marital status on December 31st, not what your W-4 said during the year. The W-4 just determines how much gets taken out of each paycheck - it's basically just an estimate. Your actual taxes are calculated when you file your return. Make sure to update your W-4s now for 2025 so you don't overpay again this year, but for 2024 you should be expecting money back rather than owing. Congratulations on your marriage, and don't stress about this - it's one of the most common "mistakes" that actually works out in your favor!