The Widow’s Penalty

How much more tax does a surviving spouse pay filing single? Computed lifetime tax increase across 6 income levels and 5 IRA balances.

30 computed examples

100K Income 1.5M Ira 100K Income 1M Ira 100K Income 2M Ira 100K Income 3M Ira 100K Income 500K Ira 120K Income 1.5M Ira 120K Income 1M Ira 120K Income 2M Ira 120K Income 3M Ira 120K Income 500K Ira 150K Income 1.5M Ira 150K Income 1M Ira 150K Income 2M Ira 150K Income 3M Ira 150K Income 500K Ira 200K Income 1.5M Ira 200K Income 1M Ira 200K Income 2M Ira 200K Income 3M Ira 200K Income 500K Ira 60K Income 1.5M Ira 60K Income 1M Ira 60K Income 2M Ira 60K Income 3M Ira 60K Income 500K Ira 80K Income 1.5M Ira 80K Income 1M Ira 80K Income 2M Ira 80K Income 3M Ira 80K Income 500K Ira
Try the interactive calculator →

Educational purposes only. This tool illustrates mathematical concepts related to long-term financial planning and is not financial advice. Numbers are computed from standard formulas and do not account for individual tax situations, inflation, or sequence-of-returns risk. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. Data: 2026 tax year (verified 2026-06-11).