Same-Sex Marriages Now Recognized for Federal Tax Purposes

Two months after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, the Treasury Department and the IRS have issued a ruling that implements federal tax aspects of the court’s decision.

The ruling, issued last week, says that same-sex couples who are legally married in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory or a foreign country that recognizes their marriages will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.

Importantly, the ruling applies regardless of whether a couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or in one that does not.

Starting Sept. 16, same-sex couples will be treated as married for all federal tax purposes, including income and gift and estate taxes. The ruling applies to all federal tax provisions where marriage is a factor:

• Filing status
• Claiming personal and dependency exemptions
• Taking the standard deduction
• Employee benefits
• Contributing to an IRA
• Claiming the earned income tax credit or child tax credit.

The ruling does not apply to registered domestic partnerships, civil unions or similar formal relationships recognized under state law.

Treasury and the IRS said legally married same-sex couples generally must file their 2013 federal income tax return using either the married filing jointly or married filing separately filing status.

Individuals who were in same-sex marriages may, if they want, file original or amended returns choosing to be treated as married for federal tax purposes for one or more prior tax years still open under the statute of limitations.