Marriage · New child · Divorce
Life Event Paycheck Impact Calculator
Estimate how a life event changes paycheck withholding before you update Form W-4. Choose an event for a dedicated, indexable before/after calculator.
Choose a life event
- Marriage — Compare Single vs Married Filing Jointly withholding on the same salary, and see why dual-income households usually need W-4 Step 2(c).
- New child — Model before/after take-home when you add Child Tax Credit dollars on Form W-4 Step 3 — then update your W-4 with your employer.
- Divorce — See how filing as Single or Head of Household changes withholding after divorce. This tool does not determine HoH eligibility.
Already married and comparing joint vs separate filing? Use the Marriage Tax Calculator (MFJ vs MFS).
What these tools estimate
Each event page runs the same 2026 paycheck engine twice (or more) with different filing-status and W-4 inputs — the same dual-calc pattern as the raise impact calculator. Results are payroll withholding estimates, not year-end tax liability. Child Tax Credit phaseouts and Head of Household eligibility tests are intentionally out of scope.
Life event paycheck questions
Does getting married change my paycheck immediately?
Only after you submit an updated Form W-4. Filing as married on your W-4 switches federal withholding tables; if your spouse also works, checking Step 2(c) usually raises withholding so you do not under-withhold during the year.
How does a new child affect W-4 withholding?
Form W-4 Step 3 reduces annual federal withholding by the Child Tax Credit amount for each qualifying child under 17 ($2,200 for 2026) plus $500 for each other dependent. This tool shows paycheck impact from that Step 3 dollar credit — it does not model CTC phaseouts or refundability on a tax return.
Can I file as Head of Household after divorce?
Maybe — HoH has qualifying-person and support tests. This calculator shows the withholding math for Single and Head of Household side by side, but it does not determine eligibility. Confirm HoH status with a tax professional before updating your W-4.
Is this the same as the Marriage Tax Calculator?
No. The Marriage Tax Calculator compares married filing jointly vs separately for two earners who are already married. This life-event tool estimates paycheck changes when you marry, have a child, or divorce — using before/after filing status and W-4 Step 2/3 inputs.