In 1948, Congress created the joint filing status to try to create tax equality between married couples in community and non-community property states. Favored tax treatment for taxpayers in community property states was a result of the 1930 Supreme Court case Poe v. Seaborn. Joint filing,...

Middle-income single parents are denied most tax breaks, get fewer education credits and earned income tax credits, and receive no stimulus or tax rebates. All their other benefits also phase out more quickly than those of their married counterparts. This occurs because single parents file as...