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Just Married? It’s Time to Revisit Your Financial Plan

Financial & Tax Planning

Getting married can change your tax picture, but taxes are only one part of the financial planning that comes with marriage.

In IRS Tax Tip 2026-54, the IRS reminded newly married couples of several steps to take before the next filing season. Most are simple, but they’re worth addressing sooner rather than at tax time.

Start with the basics

If either spouse changes their name, the IRS advises updating it with the Social Security Administration so the name on their tax return matches Social Security records.

If marriage comes with a move, couples should also update their address with the IRS, employers, financial institutions and the U.S. Postal Service.

Take another look at your tax picture

Marriage can change a household’s tax situation, particularly when both spouses work or income comes from multiple sources.

The IRS recommends that newly married employees provide their employers with an updated Form W-4 within 10 days of marriage. Couples can also use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to check their withholding.

Filing status deserves attention, too. Your marital status on December 31 generally determines your federal tax filing status for the entire year, and married couples generally have the option to file jointly or separately. Which makes sense depends on your circumstances, particularly when income and assets are more complex. Your tax advisor can help you compare the two.

Look beyond the tax return

The tax return is only part of the picture.

Marriage is also a good time to revisit beneficiary designations, estate planning documents, insurance coverage and investment accounts. For families with business interests, trusts, real estate or charitable goals, there may be additional planning decisions to coordinate.

At Heritage Wealth Advisors, we help families look across these decisions rather than address each one in isolation. After marriage, that means making sure your tax planning, investments and estate plan still work together—and reflect the priorities you share as a family.

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This material is for informational purposes only. Heritage Wealth Advisors is an SEC-registered investment advisor. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this article serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Heritage. Heritage is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of the newsletter content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of Heritage’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available upon request or at heritagewealth.net.