Can I put married on my w4 before the actual marriage date?

[Bmitch]

We are getting married in August and it is currently January. I read somewhere that if you elect married before December 31st that the IRS counts it for the entire year. 

[macuser_22 · Accepted solution]

Claiming married will cause your employer to withhold less for tax.  If you claim married now then the lower withholding will apply for the entire year.   If you then file jointly next year your tax will be calculate as married for the entire year.    

A word of caution:  If both you and your future spouse work, then when you file jointly your incomes will be combined and taxed at that combined tax rate which might exceed the amount of withholding.    Each employer will withhold as if the employees income is the only income.   Many married couples that both work each claim single (or even have additional withheld) so that they are not under withheld at the end of the year when there combined income places them into a higher tax bracket.

[Bmitch]

My future spouse and I do work and live in CA. If the tax bracket remains the same once its combined (I.E 25% when single and 25% when combined) would it be wise to move to married for withholding or keep the single election. (Combined income around $148K)

[SweetieJean]

Keep in mind your state taxes as well.

[macuser_22]

You can use TaxCaster to get an estimate of your tax based on your combined income and then use the IRS withholding calculator to find the correct way to fill out the W-4's.

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/html5/index.html">https://turbotax.intui...>
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-Withholding-Calculator">https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-With...>

[WillK]

The IRS determines martial status on the last day of the year (12/31/2016). If you elect married on your W-4, and you are married as of 12/31/2016 then it doesn't matter when you elect it. If you elect married on your W-4 and you do not get married by 12/31/2016, then you run the risk that the amount withheld would be wrong since you are single.  

For more information please click the following link: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch02.html#en_US_2015_publink1000170736

[SweetieJean]

Your 2016 marital status will be determined as of 12/31/2016.

Your W-4 determines the amount of your withholding only. However, if anything happens and you do not end up getting married, the amount withheld will be wrong.