People in Maryland may have seen the topic of same-sex marriage in the news lately. Same-sex marriage has been one of the more prominent domestic issues in the United States, as states have either taken measures to accept it, or in some states, combat it. But overall, same-sex partners have largely come out ahead in 2013, as the Supreme Court has overturned much of the Defense of Marriage Act and paved the way for marriage equality on the federal level. Same-sex partners scored another victory last month when the Internal Revenue Service announced that it will allow same-sex married partners to file their taxes jointly.
This is excellent news for same-sex partners in Maryland, who will have one less thing to worry about when it comes to tax time. In addition to the significant tax breaks that will now be available to all married couples, regardless of sexual orientation, the IRS has also announced that same-sex partners can amend their tax returns from previous years in order to take advantage of the married filing status for up to the past three years.
The new IRS rules will come with plenty of new questions, and may serve as a catalyst for other federal agencies to get serious about adopting pro-equality policies. In other words, people can probably expect the discussion to continue in the coming months.
Same-sex partners in Maryland have been able to legally marry since January 1, but there are still new and novel legal questions that arise every day when it comes to same-sex marriage and divorce. Same-sex couples that have questions about marital property, taxes and property division can consult with an experienced family law attorney who can help them understand the implications of divorce on the state and federal level.
Source: Los Angeles Times “IRS, Treasury will recognize same-sex marriage across state lines,” Alexei Koseff, Aug. 29, 2013