[robrtsql]

It cost me over $3000 to be married on my 2024 taxes.

I used to be able to declare my house, and my parents' house (I own it). Because of these two things, I have been able to itemize my deductions. In 2024, because I got married, the itemized 'threshold' to reach was higher so I had to take the standard deduction, which ended up costing me a lot more in taxes. It's making me ask questions like "is it worth $3000 every year forever to stay married?"

Your mileage may vary!

[hellojesus]

I had the same conundrum. It costs me far more to be married than to not be married because of the itemized deduction loses. I used to be able to itemize about $21k. But now that I'm married, the standard $24k wins out, which means our household went from $33k deductions to $24k, and our effective rate ends up being about 30%, so that's about the $3k your are penalized. Plus state income taxes and county surcharges on income above $200k at 1%.

It makes me terribly sad each and every year. And each and every year I have to reconsume stories about the man that flew his plane into an IRS building, and the guy from NJ that threatened an IRS agent on a voicemail and then called back immediately and apologized but still got 12 months. Every year I make a decision to not throw my life away. And every year it's a really tough decision.

[DoctorOW]

If it helps you in talking yourself down from domestic terrorism, IRS is just law enforcement. Killing IRS agents won't lower your taxes, in the same way killing police officers won't legalize anything.

[hellojesus]

I agree. Which is why I have not yet performed a domestic terrorism. Usually I express my disgust by writing things like "domestic terrorist" in the job title box on my tax return.

But I do give it serious thought, with the quandary normally being: do I have the capacity (and the willingness) to inflict such an impression that I can terrify people from choosing to work for the IRS?