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(Reuters) - All
legally wed gay couples, no matter what state they live in, are entitled
to the same U.S.
federal tax benefits as married heterosexual couples,
the Obama administration said on Thursday.
The U.S. Treasury ruling,
following a landmark Supreme Court decision in June, means that whether a
married gay couple lives in New York, which recognizes gay marriage, or
Oklahoma, which does not, federal tax benefits and responsibilities
apply.
The Supreme Court on June 26
invalidated a key portion of a 1996 federal law, known as the Defense
of Marriage Act, which had defined marriage as between a man and a
woman.
There was some uncertainty
after the Supreme Court ruling about how the tax status of gay married
couples would be treated in dozens of states that have laws against gay
marriage.
"Today's ruling provides
certainty and clear, coherent tax filing guidance for all legally
married same-sex couples nationwide. It provides access to benefits,
responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all
Americans deserve," Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said.
There are about 130,000 same-sex married couples in the United States, according to estimates from the Census Bureau.
Gay
rights backers said the ruling could spur same-sex couples in states
where gay marriage is not legal to travel to states where it is
recognized to wed.
"We will see
many more couples from the more than 30 states without marriage equality
come to New York," said Nathan Schaeffer, executive director of the
Empire State Pride Agenda.
Under
the ruling, effective September 16, gay married couples may file amended
tax returns to change their filing status going back to tax years 2010,
2011 and 2012 to seek possible tax refunds, the Treasury Department
said in a statement.
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