Same-sex Couples Deemed Married for Federal Tax Purposes
The U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS issued ruling as a direct result of Supreme Court action regarding same-sex couples. In short:
Under the ruling any same-sex marriage legally entered into in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory that recognize same-sex marriage will be treated as married for all federal tax purposes. This includes:
•filing status
•personal deductions
•dependency exemptions
•standard deductions
•employee benefits
•tax credits
•retirement plans and contributions
More importantly, this ruling applies regardless of where the same-sex couple currently lives. The ruling applies to originally being married in jurisdictions that legally recognize their marriages.
Other things to note:
Beginning in 2013, same-sex couples within this ruling must file either married filing jointly or married filing separately. You may no longer file as a single taxpayer.
You may choose to, but are not required to, file amended tax returns as being married for any prior tax years that are still open under the statute of limitations. This usually means three tax years.
This ruling DOES NOT apply to registered domestic partnerships, civil unions or similar formal relationships.
If you paid for same-sex health insurance coverage from an employer in after-tax dollars you may be able to shift these premiums into pre-tax dollars.
State laws are more complex and are currently evolving so try to keep informed of any new developments on this front.
Gilliland & Associates, PC is a full-service CPA firm specializing in tax planning for individuals and businesses in the Northern Virginia area. We are based in Falls Church, VA and also service clients in McLean and Tysons Corner, VA. Gilliland & Associates is known for our superior knowledge and aggressive interpretation and application of tax laws. We help you keep more of your earnings by finding you the lowest possible tax on your business or personal tax return. You can connect with us on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
