Cost Quote by Millicent Fenwick
“When two working people decide to marry, their federal income tax is usually increased. As soon as one spouse earns at least 20 percent of a married couple's total income, the couple pays a 'marriage tax.' ... The United States is the only major industrialized nation in the free world in which the tax cost of the second [married] earner's entry into the work force is higher than that of the first. On one hand, our government's social policy is to help working women earn equal salaries to those of men, but on the other we have a tax structure that penalizes them when they do so.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional Testimony, 1990, United States Senate
Marrying can raise a couple’s tax burden, especially when both spouses work, creating a “marriage tax” that discourages dual‑income households.
In simple terms: Marriage can increase taxes for dual‑income couples.
Key Takeaway
Consider tax reforms that reward joint work.
Themes
tax policy
gender equality
family economics
Mood
frustrated
concerned
Type
policy
analysis
When to use this quote
- dual‑income households
- policy advocacy
- tax planning
Key Concepts
progressive taxation
labor incentives
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the marriage tax influence career choices?
- What reforms could eliminate the penalty for second earners?
A Different Perspective
The tax system may also affect decisions about having children or part‑time work.
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