Final answer:
Whether a single person has less income tax withheld compared to a married employee depends on individual circumstances and the tax brackets they fall into. Single taxpayers generally have a higher marginal tax rate than married taxpayers, which could result in higher withholdings for a single person with the same income as a married couple.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether a single person will have less income tax withheld than a married employee is not necessarily a true or false scenario because it depends on various factors, including total income and withholdings claimed on the W-4 form. However, under the United States federal income tax system, it is generally observed that a single taxpayer may have a higher marginal tax rate than a married taxpayer earning the same amount, because the tax brackets for married individuals filing jointly are designed to provide some tax relief compared to single filers. To illustrate, for a single taxpayer, the marginal tax rates range from 10% to 35%, depending on income. For married taxpayers filing jointly, the tax brackets generally allow more income to be taxed at lower rates before reaching the next bracket. As result, a married couple might have a lower marginal tax rate compared to a single individual with the same income. These differences in tax rates are meant to reflect changes in financial responsibility and burden due to marital status and family size.