Same-sex couples can lose up to $6,000 a year in tax benefits

[xchrom]

http://lgbtweekly.com/2011/12/27/same-sex-couples-can-lose-up-to-6000-a-year-in-tax-benefits/


Kenneth Weissenberg and his spouse, Brian Sheerin. // Photo Credit: CNN Money

A new study at CNN Money reveals that couples in same-sex marriages lose nearly $6,000 a year in federal tax benefits since the federal government does not legally recognize their union.

While same-sex spouses are entitled to some state benefits, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prevents those married legally in their states to file their federal return jointly, resulting in financial discrimination for couples who are legally married in their respective states.

The translation: those in gay marriages are not entitled to the same benefits as married heterosexual couples. While the study does not necessarily illuminate this fact for the first time, it’s one of the first studies to break down the financial discrimination presented by the federal government in wake of the legalization of DOMA.

“It’s costing these families thousands of dollars a year, as well as the emotional pain and suffering,” said Ken Weissenberg, a partner at accounting firm EisnerAmper, in a statement to CNN Money. Weissenberg is also a partner in a same-sex marriage.

[Pab Sungenis]

1. It costs us an average of $900.00 a year.

We know this because the screwed-up second-class status we have forces us to prepare five or six different tax returns, including theoretical Federal ones that we file with the State to show what we would have owed if we could have filed as married. That, in turn, lowballs (as far as the State is concerned) the amount of Federal tax we paid which can lead to higher state tax.

It's a royal mess.

[jumptheshadow]

2. We are getting gouged

My partner's company charged us about $3,500 in taxes last year for my health benefits. I am blessed to have them but other married couples are not levied taxes on their benefits. This cannot be constitutional.

We are still looking for a good accountant to take care of the mess that will be our taxes this year. It's going to be expensive.

I am so happy to be wearing her wedding ring and will gladly jump through these blazing hoops for the right to do so. I am getting closer to retirement, though, and could use the $30K+ our hard-won rights have cost us over the past few years.

[xchrom]

3. +1

[Ms. Toad]

4. $5000+ the last time I figured it out. (And I know the state taxe are an additional $500-$1000

because our state taxes are particularly beneficial to couples over singles, as long as the income levels are different).

As well as costs associated with not having spousal access to social security, tax free access to each other's retirement plans, inheritance, etc.

[MNBrewer]

5. This is why NOM/Santorum want to make SSM about sex

the nitty gritty details of how same sex couples are maltreated would lead the majority to sympathize with our cause. Hence the distraction. Oooo! Look over there! Icky sex!