Same-sex couples pay more in taxes than heterosexuals
By Blake Ellis, CNN Money
NEW YORK — Same-sex spouses are paying as much as $6,000 a year in extra taxes because the federal government doesn’t recognize gay marriage, according to an analysis conducted for CNNMoney by tax specialists.
While marriage provides tax benefits for many heterosexual couples, same-sex families don’t enjoy the same perks because they are not allowed to file their federal returns jointly.
The imbalance persists despite increasing acceptance of gay marriage as a legal right. More than 12 states now grant full or partial marriage rights to same-sex couples, and a recent Gallup poll showed — for the first time — that a majority of Americans favor gay marriage.
But not the federal government, which is constrained by the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Even as more same-sex couples are able to file jointly at the state level, they are still forced to file as single when submitting federal returns to the IRS.
This means they can’t combine their income and deductions to take advantage of lower tax rates. It’s also harder for them to qualify for certain tax breaks because the credits phase out sooner for single filers.
The Log Cabin Republicans should ask David Dreier R Ca.to sponsor a change in the tax law. David was outed years ago by Page six, yes that Page Six of the New York Post. The hated
Kitty Kelley alluded to that fact when David dated Doro Bush for a year after her divorce.
Maybe Barney Frank will consider a recension of the “Frank Rule” now that he is retiring.
Civil union should be the only legal union recognized by government. The word “marriage” is too emotionally charged and should be left to the churches. Civil union, be it between man and woman, or same sex, being a legally binding union between consenting adults, would solve the problems of taxes and rights of inheritance (and responsibility!) and debt.
I know y’all think I’m an intollerant conservative Christian, but I actually am associated with the Log Cabin Republicans of New York! So there!
Less government!*
You are the one who is attaching emotions to marriage. Should I starting making a list of all of the things heterosexuals are doing to cheapen the meaning of marriage in our culture? The argument that gay marriage will cheapen marriage is ludicrous. And disingenuous, because there is absolutely no talk from the religious right to take on ‘Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire’ and the Kardashians. None.
*Unless homosexuals want to get married, then the government should be used to prevent them from doing so
Who cares who marries whom? Consenting adults should be the only requirement. I assume that all married couples pay their taxes to the same agencies and counties and ????? Pick a topic that really matters, honestly. Geez.
Well written article that points out some of the ways that gay and lesbian people are discriminated against by our federal government. Other ways include the fact that gay and lesbian people do not have survivorship rights to Social Security benefits and immigration laws are not applied equally to our marriages as they are to heterosexual marriages. DOMA (“Defense of Marriage Act”) must be repealed.
@Dogwoman: We don’t typically agree with each other in this forum, but I have to say I like your statement on this one.