the opposite sex

[John of PA]

Simplicity is a virtue

>>IRS will have to change their terminology from "married filing joint" to something else<<

Since two-income families are now the norm, the MFJ tax break has become a marriage penalty. As marriage itself is redefined (variously in different states), we'll just go back to separate filing for everyone equally.

I learned this from the 2023 edition of Pub 17, which a friend of mine brought back from a recent trip.

Ah yes, that would simplify it. Everyone file separate returns. Everyone would then be treated equally, regardless of marital status. But wait...every item of income and expense would have to be allocated between husband and wife. Oh well!!