Cross posting from LBN important to all in our Group.

[William769]

Same-Sex Married Couples To Get Federal Tax Recognition Regardless Of State

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Thursday that when it comes to taxes, it will recognize same-sex couples' marriages even if they live in a state that does not.

The decision, which was prompted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, marks the latest political progress for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Prior to this spring, the Internal Revenue Service did not recognize same-sex married couples pursuant to section 3 of DOMA. Once DOMA was overturned in June, the question became: What about same-sex married couples who moved to a state that didn’t recognize their marriage (a couple married in Massachusetts who moved to Arkansas, for example)?

Thursday’s ruling by Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew provides a uniform policy for the IRS; the state of celebration -- where the wedding took place -- now trumps the state of residency when it comes to federal tax status for same-sex married couples.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/same-sex-couples-federal-taxes_n_3837444.html

cross posted from http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014579802#post1

[theHandpuppet]

1. Thanks so much for spreading the news!

This is such good news for this household!

[Behind the Aegis]

2. I wish we could take advantage of it.

But, this is really good news, and gives me a bit more hope about the future of my rights in this country.

[William769]

3. Your not to far from Iowa aren't you.

If possible, take a weekend getaway.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. About 6 hours or so. I am not sure how it would work.

I'll have to do some checking.

ETA: Of course, it will depend on my man too....I wonder how'd he feel knowing it is this close to marriage.....mwhahahaha!

[William769]

5. Well damn it! Get down on one knee & find out!

[nomorenomore08]

7. +1

Not really my place to say anything but I second William! Go for it, man!

[pinto]

6. Good call on the federal front.

[Creideiki]

8. This lets me stay in Colorado

New Mexico is close, but will be facing massive water problems.

Granted, I'll still have to file a civil union separately so I can file state jointly, but at least it's possible at only about twice the cost of a straight couple. And just a bunch of lost benefits because we're not straight.

[joeybee12]

9. A BIG knr!

[Ms. Toad]

10. This is the analysis the Supreme Court **should have** done

I've been saying since before the decision that in order to grant Edie Windsor's request in a legally coherent way, the Supreme Court would need to throw out way more of DOMA because the IRS has - for decades - based its recognition of marriage on the legality of the marriage at the time it was created. My example has always been common law marriage. Instead, the Supreme Court waved a magic wand and recognized Edie Windsor's marriage based on state recognition at some time after the actual marriage (and otherwise reputable news sources inexplicably started opining that marital status on the date of interaction with the tax code, in the stat of residence, was how IRS always viewed it).

I am grateful the IRS didn't try to rely on the Supreme Court's legal fiction, and instead fell back on their own longstanding criteria.

[NealK]

11. This is too slow.

All this is taking an awful lot of time. Too much feet dragging. There are several countries where all that stuff was put in the same package, voted on and now LGBT rights have strong laws against any form of discrimination in those countries including ENDA type laws. Can't believe that the U.S is still having such a 19th century mentality.