@variablepulserate It works something like this:
- Married couples (filing jointly) get a larger standard deduction as well as the ability to deduct a few other things (not sure we were deducting these)
- Mortgage interest is deductible (if you itemize)
- Children under 18 result in a tax credit
Having just filed "single" taxes for the first time in over 25 years, I'm now acutely aware of all of these facts.