I AM GETTING MARRIED, NOW WHAT?

I finally found the man of my dreams and we are getting married this month. Is there anything I need to do before for taxes?

Mona

Mona, congratulations. I wish you well. I remember a toast that I gave at a wedding when I was honored to be the best man. “A man marries a woman thinking she will never change, and a woman marries a man thinking that they can change them - and they are both wrong.” The toast did not work because four years later they were divorced. Speaking of divorce, consider talking to your lawyer about a pre nuptial agreement. Not a bad document to have just in case.

Enough of that… here are the tax things that you need to think about.

1. Notify the Social Security Administration to report any name change, so your name and SSN will match when you file your next tax return. Informing the SSA of a name change is quite simple. File a Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security card at your local SSA office. The form is available on SSA’s Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov, by calling 800-772-1213 or at local offices.

2. Notify the IRS If you have a new address. You should notify the IRS by sending Form 8822, Change of Address. You may download Form 8822 from the IRS website IRS.gov or order it by calling 800–TAX–FORM (800–829–3676).

3. You should also notify the U.S. Postal Service when you move so it can forward any IRS correspondence.

4. Notify Your Employer(s) to report any name and address changes to ensure receipt of your Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement after the end of the year.

Also consider checking your withholding. If both you and your spouse work (I hope he does. If he is unemployed you might want to think about this), your combined income may place you in a higher tax bracket. There is an IRS Withholding Calculator at www.irs.gov that will help you and will even provide you with a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. You can print it out and give it to your employer so they can withhold the correct amount from your pay.

Best of luck and again congratulations.

Larry Kopsa CPA