Abstract
This paper analyzes the change in taxpayer behavior following amendments of the marital deductions in Canada and England and Wales. A short interrupted time-series design was used. There was a significant drop in the percentage of marriages occurring in the last month of the tax years and increases in the summer months. This indicates a relationship between the change in the law and the relative number of marriages that were performed near the tax year-end. This paper adds to the stream of research that taxes do distort behavior and that there are strategic players in personal matters.