The ‘Marriage Penalty’ and Tax Simplification

“Measure Offers Little Relief for Marrieds” [June 3] went to great lengths to promote the idea that a “marriage penalty” is the problem in achieving a fair tax system.

This is not totally correct, as it does not address the “singles penalty.” The real problem is the “marriage bonus.”

The answer is to return to the way the U.S. Tax Code was originally written and eliminate joint returns. Then there’s no penalty when two wage earners get married, and singles will be taxed more fairly.

This would also help simplify the income tax system by eliminating all the separate rates, credits and deductions discussed in your article. And when the present beneficiaries of the marriage bonus start paying a fairer share of our nation’s taxes, single rates could be reduced as a benefit to all.

Evan Johnson

San Diego