Married Black couples often pay more in federal income tax than White married couples. And the racial disparity in California may exceed the national average.
A study by Washington’s nonpartisan Tax Policy Center found that nationally, 46% of Black married couples paid what amounts to a “marriage penalty,” while 43% of White couples paid one.
That cost Black couples an average of $148 more in federal income taxes. Just among Black couples with penalties, the average marriage tax was 1.8% of their income. In contrast, it was 1.4% for White couples who experienced marriage penalties.
