Obama ruling opens door to same sex couples to file married tax returns

Source: Milwaukee Journal SentinelAug.迷你倉新蒲崗 29--MADISON -- Officials in President Barack Obama's administration said Thursday that they would recognize married tax filings from same-sex couples who have been legally married wherever they live, giving same-sex partners in Wisconsin a powerful financial incentive to get legally married in other jurisdictions.The joint announcement by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service means that if same-sex couples are married in a state or country that allows gay marriage, then they will be treated married when they file their federal taxes even if they live in a state like Wisconsin that does not legally recognize that marriage.The decision follows the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a key part of the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act. The IRS move applies to everything from filing status, claiming personal and dependency exemptions, taking the standard deduction, employee benefits, contributing to an individual retirement account and claiming the earned income tax credit or child tax credit."Today's ruling...provides access to benefits, responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all Americans deserve," Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement. "This ruling also assures legal迷你倉出租y married same-sex couples that they can move freely throughout the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change."The decision raises questions, however, about how such couples will be treated in Wisconsin, where in 2006 voters strongly approved a constitutional ban on gay marriages and civil unions.Thursday's decisions means 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. The Obama administration said that individuals who were in same-sex marriages may, but are not required to, 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.In Wisconsin as in other states, state income tax filings are based off of an individual or couple's federal tax filing. A state Department of Revenue spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking guidance on how same-sex couples in Wisconsin who file their federal taxes as married will handle their state filings.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Visit the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at .jsonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉