Am I better off filing a joint return with my wife, or should each of us file separately?

Generally speaking, the tax rates are structured such that if a couple is married they are best off filing jointly. When a married couple files separately there is often a non-financial reason for doing so. In exceptional cases, it may pay to file the return married filing separately.

Example: A husband and wife both work full time and keep track of all of their finances separately. They allocate joint expenses, like rent and utilities. The husband and wife both file separate tax returns to simplify their financial lives even though filing jointly would save them some taxes.