Same Sex Couples Pay More Taxes

According to a CNNMoney report, due to the lack of recognition the federal government gives same-sex marriages, gay couples have to file their tax returns separately, resulting in as much as $6,000 a year in taxes. Where dem dollars at indeed.

"The imbalance persists despite increasing acceptance of gay marriage as a legal right. More than 12 states now grant full or partial marriage rights to same-sex couples, and a recent Gallup poll showed -- for the first time -- that a majority of Americans favor gay marriage.

But not the federal government, which is constrained by the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Even as more same-sex couples are able to file jointly at the state level, they are still forced to file as single when submitting federal returns to the IRS.

This means they can't combine their income and deductions to take advantage of lower tax rates. It's also harder for them to qualify for certain tax breaks because the credits phase out sooner for single filers.

The report cited some living arrangements, such as one spouse working while the other stays at  home with the kids, as an example of how gay couples pay more, saying "In the same-sex family's case, the working spouse files as "head of household," and the stay-at-home spouse is considered a "qualifying relative."

"Say that couple reported no other income or deductions. In that case, the same-sex household's federal tax bill is $15,199, which includes tax the head of household must pay on health insurance premiums to cover the stay-at-home spouse. That's $4,543 higher than the straight couple's liability."

Read the full report HERE.