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Basically, if the lower income spouse makes half or more than the other then the tax is the same as if they filed as singles, which also means, if they have kids they're actually paying more than one spouse filling head of household and the other filling single. The only time it gets funny is when there are no kids and the income is radically different - or you start pushing into the upper 20% bracket.As I said, I don't currently live in the US, but the main one that bothers me everywhere I go is the opportunity to pay less income tax by filing joint tax returns. This can occasionally work the opposite way, but more often than not it leads to married couples getting to keep more of the money they earn than me. Or to put it another way, they get less stolen from them. Depending on the country, married couples also sometimes get a flat rate deduction on their income taxes and capital gains.
Income tax is a big deal to a lot of people. If I could abolish it outright I would. Failing that, I think the rules should be the same for everyone. Government tax breaks are just another manipulation of enslaved economies. They steal your money and make you think they are being generous when they agree to steal slightly less.
US tax tables, which are included in the instructions, and tax forms can be downloaded at IRS.gov. Look for i1040 for the tables/instructions and f1040 for the form.