Colorado Penalizes Marriage in New Tax Measure

A bride and groom pose for wedding pictures at the Bethesda Terrace in New York's Central Park on May 23, 2017. Mary Altaffer/AP Photo

On Nov. 8, Coloradans overwhelmingly voted “yes” on Proposition FF, which expands its universal free school meals program by limiting tax deductions on earners making more than $300,000. And by doing so, Colorado voters also voted to penalize marriage, according to the nation’s leading independent tax policy nonprofit.

When Colorado passed Proposition FF or the Healthy School Meals for All ballot measure, it created a “tax cliff” that penalizes married high earners; it’s the first time Colorado has adopted such a penalty, according to Tax Foundation.

Colorado Adopts Marriage Penalty

Beginning in 2023, Proposition FF limits state income tax deductions to $12,000 for single filers or $16,000 for joint filers and applies to standard or itemized deductions. That limit applies to any household making more than $300,000 per year without a higher tax bracket for marriage.