Guides · October 9, 2026
The paperwork after the wedding: taxes, Social Security and your passport
Nobody plans this part, and none of it is urgent on the day. But a few of these steps have an order, and one has a deadline. Everything here comes from the agencies' own pages.
Taxes: the IRS list for newlyweds
The IRS published its latest checklist for newly married couples in July 2026. The rule behind it: your marital status on December 31 decides your filing options for the whole year. Marry in December and you are married for that entire tax year.
- Name. If either of you changes your name, report it to Social Security before filing. The name on the return has to match Social Security's records.
- Address. If you move, tell the IRS with Form 8822, along with the post office, your employers and your banks.
- Withholding. The IRS says newlyweds should give their employers a new Form W-4 within 10 days. Two incomes together can change your bracket.
- Filing status. You can file jointly or separately. The IRS says jointly is usually better and suggests working it out both ways.
- Records. Put your W-2s, 1099s and last year's returns in one place.
- Credits and deductions. Marriage can change what you qualify for, so review them before you file.
If you are changing your name: the order
Changing your name is optional. If you do, USA.gov says to notify Social Security early, because other agencies learn about name changes through it.
- Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Agencies want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy.
- Social Security first.
- Then your driver's license or state ID.
- Then your passport.
- Then your employer, bank and everything else.
Social Security
- You change your name by requesting a replacement card. It is free.
- Depending on your situation and state you may be able to do it online; otherwise you need an appointment at a local office.
- You will show proof of identity and of the name change. Originals or certified copies only.
- SSA says the card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days after the request is completed. Your number does not change.
- For online requests, SSA suggests waiting about 30 days after the wedding, so the state has time to update its records.
Passport: which form
Fees as posted by the State Department in March 2026. The mail options mean sending in your current passport, so do not start this just before a trip.
| Your situation | Form | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Passport issued and name changed, both less than a year ago | DS-5504, by mail | None, unless you expedite ($60) |
| More than a year, and you can renew by mail | Renewal by mail, with a certified copy of the marriage certificate | $130 |
| Not eligible to renew by mail | DS-11, in person | $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee |
The honeymoon question
If you travel soon after the wedding, the simple approach is to book in the name on the ID you will actually carry and make the changes when you are back. If you have TSA PreCheck, TSA says the name on the reservation must match the name on your membership exactly.
Sources:
- IRS Tax Tip 2026-54, Marriage means making changes before next filing season (Jul 2026)
- IRS Tax Tip 2025-02, Essential tax tips for marriage status changes (Jan 2025)
- USA.gov, How to change your name and what government agencies to notify (Sep 2026)
- Social Security Administration, Change name with Social Security
- Social Security Administration, Replace Social Security card
- Social Security Administration, Newlyweds: a faster way to get a card with your new name (Aug 2024)
- US Department of State, Change or Correct a Passport (updated Jun 2026)
- US Department of State, Passport Fees (updated Mar 2026)
- TSA, Does the name on my airline reservation have to match the name on my application?
General information for planning, not legal or financial advice. My Wedding Plan is independent and not affiliated with the sources cited.