Washington, D.C. - The U.S. House has voted to permanently end a tax that penalizes married couples filing jointly by forcing them to pay higher taxes than if they filed individually.  U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson (IL-15) is a cosponsor of H.R. 4181, commonly known as the Marriage Penalty Tax Repeal.   

“Thirty million married couples currently benefit from the elimination of the marriage penalty that we enacted in 2001,” said Rep. Johnson.  “With the passage of H.R. 4181, this tax relief is made permanent and does not face a 2010 expiration.  In essence, the government is returning $12 billion to working families across America.”

Tax relief is a major priority to Rep. Johnson.  The suspension of the marriage penalty, combined with several other temporary cuts to Americans’ taxes is credited for the nation’s recent economic growth.  Rep. Johnson remains optimistic that in coming months, Congress will make permanent additional tax cuts that have contributed to economic growth in America since they were enacted temporarily in 2001.

“When we put money back in the hands of the American people, we reduce their economic burden and empower them to spend their own money at their own discretion,” said Johnson.  “I look forward to combining the permanent repeal of the marriage penalty with the permanent repeal of the estate tax, permanent reductions in capital gains taxes, continued deductions for child and dependent care and those for health care for the self-employed.  Americans should not be facing the massive tax increase that will occur in 2011 without a permanent repeal of these tax cuts.”

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