Lambda Legal has published a short guide aimed at tax professionals and Californias registered domestic partners explaining the consequences of a significant shift in federal tax policy as they file their tax returns for 2010.
The change, announced earlier this year by the Internal Revenue Service, applies to California's registered domestic partners and also may apply to the state's estimated 18,000 legally married same-sex couples, as well as registered domestic partners in Nevada and Washington.
In a change from the approach taken by the Bush administration, the IRS will now recognize the jointly owned community property income earned by California registered domestic partners, the same way it long has done for different-sex married couples who file separate federal income tax returns. Recognition of community income" means couples each will report half of their combined income on their separate returns called income-splitting which can mean big savings for couples with wide disparities in income.
This change represents one more good step in the direction of treating same-sex couples who have formalized their relationship under state law the same as married different-sex couples are treated, said National Marriage Project Director for Lambda Legal Jennifer C. Pizer in a statement. The problem addressed by this new policy highlights what marriage discrimination means an endless stream of sometimes small inequalities that often end up costing same-sex couples real dollars as well as their dignity. But lets be clear: While this is welcome progress towards our communitys goal of full legal equality for same-sex couples, the IRS still wont allow us to file a joint tax return or otherwise respect our family relationships, and federal law as a whole still discriminates against us in countless serious ways. This is a small step, but its a good one.
To download the guide, visit
