All Gay Marriages Recognized for Federal Income Tax Purposes

The Treasury Department and IRS announced Thursday that all same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes regardless of state residence, allowing gay couples in all states to file joint tax returns.

Congratulations everyone, and thanks especially to you straight allies who support us each step of the way.
All Gay Marriages Recognized for Federal Income Tax Purposes

And mine.

It's about time!

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We'll all have time to sort out what helps and what complicates our unique situations; but just for now, let's sit back and realize how amazing this is. It was my choice to live in a solid red state so I never had a sliver of hope that my relationship would be recognized outside my home. With this decision, the treasury department, thanks to a libertarian and forward-thinking framework paved by the Obama administration, has effectively robbed the state of any say in the matter.

I've been checking the "single" box for 20 years despite the guy who wakes up with me every morning; I can't imagine the feeling the first time I click one of the "married" choices.

Of course, my partner and I will actually have to tie the knot first. Maybe after 20 years it's time we made honest men of each other.

Well there's that too.

I have also heard of a "marriage penalty", best12 and we'll see.

But the status quo was this: we were forced to file jointly in California, but separately on federal returns. Because California is a community property state, however, we had to add our incomes together and split them for federal purposes--which sounds easy until you consider that various types of incomes, including withdrawals from 401Ks, don't count as joint income, etc. and so forth.

It really took a CPA with a good computer program to sort it all out.