Same-Sex Married Couples Nationwide to Receive Federal Tax Recognition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

WASHINGTON – The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that legally married gay and lesbian couples will be recognized as married for federal tax purposes even if the couples live in or move to a state that does not recognize marriage for same-sex couples. The Treasury and IRS will recognize the "place of celebration" of the marriage.

"This welcome clarification provides fair and consistent treatment for all legally married couples across the country," said James Esseks, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. "The federal government is right to recognize that people's marriages shouldn't dissolve when they cross state lines."