I came across an article on
CNN.com about a
tax benefit being offered to same-sex couples. Off the bat, this
story caught my attention because I know just how hard it is for same-sex couples to get any tax benefits at all. But as I kept reading, I found something even more interesting. This benefit is not offered to straight couples!
The credit is given to people for what is known as a
"second parent adoption." Individuals who qualify are eligible to receive up to $12,650 per child depending on specific expenses. Straight married couples can only claim the adoption credit when they adopt a child together, but not when they are adopting their spouse's child. However, due to the fact that same-sex couples' marriages are not recognized by the IRS they can claim this credit when they adopt the child of a partner.
When it comes to filing taxes, it's all about technicalities. In this case, this minor detail is highly beneficial to same-sex couples. This could be seen as a great cause for celebration; a
breakthrough for the gay community! However, the only reason gay couples are able to benefit from this loophole is because their marriages are not recognized by the IRS due to the
Defense of Marriage Act.
I suppose that gay people could react in one of two ways: 1) They can be happy that for once they are receiving a benefit that straight couples cannot receive. It's about time they begin to have some rights that straight couples don't have since it's been the other way around for so long; or 2) They could be upset that this only highlights their inequality in our society. If it weren't for the fact that the IRS only recognizes marriages between a man and a woman, then everyone would be able to receive the exact same tax credits and it would create for more equal ground.
Since I am speaking as a straight woman with no children, these are tax credits that won't actually affect me, but I feel that this news is groundbreaking and worthy of some thought and conversation.
I would love to hear from same-sex couples and straight couples with children. What do you think of these tax credits? How will they affect families differently? Are they fair?Image source.
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Comments (13)
If you offer one group tax credits, you must offer the other group the same tax credit. That's what equal rights is all about. Same-sex couples having special privileges is no different than opposite-sex couples being given special treatment.
I'm neither in a same-sex relationship or have children, but I've gotta say this is very interesting. Good article.
If you restrict the rights of one group then give them "special privileges" to compensate for the inequality, does it truly equate to special privileges? Just allow gay couple to marry and end the distinction between gay or straight couple marriages in the eyes of the IRS. Your taxes should not be linked to your sexual orientation.
Rights aren't something that you can give to one group and withhold from another. Rights are what every person is entitled to. Taxes have nothing to do with rights, unfortunately.
Personally, I think that marriage and parenting should have nothing to do with taxes.If people want to be treated equally, this isn't the way to do it...Same rights for all groups. Enough said. You don't get special treatment just because you fought hard to be married with same-sex couples.
I dislike the pressure being put upon us to give special recognition to those who choose variant lifestyles, but I dislike also the concept of taxes, tax breaks, tax benefits, etc. Tax money is a politcal football game where people in power gain more power and keep it longer by manipulating others with rewards and punishments using the tax money of those they are rewarding/punishing. Stupid, isn't it?
If the government were legitimately protecting our rights and our safety, they could send the citizenry the bill and we would gladly pay our share. (the bill would be so drastically low that we could actually afford to pay it.)
While I'm sure the gay couples who are eligible for this credit are glad for this news, this doesn't really seem like much to celebrate - it's more that someone was clever enough to discover this loophole in an already-existing law & it just so happens to benefit gay couples (as well as straight couples who decide to adopt).
I like this post, though. Thanks for giving the link to the article!
I think it's funny or interesting that parenting or rather reproduction is encouraged by taxes. Though with all the stupid reasons people get taxed or even worse the way tax revenue is wasted I'm glad when people get tax breaks.
DOMA; one of the reasons Bill Clinton is my favourite living President.
@essien@xanga - I guess you'll be happier to know that very same favorite president of yours is asking the supreme court to get rid of DOMA.
@ninetailedevee@xanga -
He can ask all he wants after the fact, bottom line is when his finger was on the button he made the move and that's what's in place till now. I'm happy with the results of his good actions. He was a true moderate in every sense of the word, not just on social issues but economically too. It's a shame the Democratic party is now controlled by leftists.
@essien@xanga - He only made that move because the alternative was worse, a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage on a national level. He knew DOMA wouldn't last for long and this left it up to the states. He's voicing his opposition to a law he never wanted to sign in the first place. It's a shame the Republican party is now controlled by bigoted, misogynistic, xenophobic old farts who can't stand equality.
A flat 3% tax for everyone and cut out the malarkey. Otherwise politicians just use the tax code to buy votes and extort campaign contributions.
@ImNotUglyIJustNeedLove@xanga - I'd agree with you if I wasn't a tax accountant. Otherwise, I'd be out of the job!
What I don't get is why gay people are more adamant about getting married than straight people. Most straight people these days don't really care if they get married or not, and many don't want to. Gay people on the other hand are so outspoken and so passionate about wanting to get married though...would they be that way if gay marriage was legal across the board? Probably not, because gay people just want what they can't have and they want the attention.