COLUMBUS— Two state lawmakers want to end Ohio’s “marriage penalty,” which forces married couples to pay more income taxes when they file jointly.
State Reps. David Leland (D-Columbus) and John Becker (R-Union Township) were scheduled to testify Tuesday before the House Ways and Means Committee on behalf of their bill that would allow married people to choose the state filing status that suits them best.
Leland and Becker say Ohio is the only state in the Midwest to require married couples to file state tax returns mirroring their federal filing status, which means married couples in Ohio pay at least an extra $159 per year, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.