Is a civil union recognized by the IRS?
In the United States, the IRS has not federally recognized civil unions, and California is following those federal guidelines. This means that civil unions are not recognized by the IRS for any tax filing purposes, including filing jointly. Civil unions in California are recognized in some other ways such as giving the couple the right to enter into a contract with each other, participate in a partner’s health care coverage, and even inherit property. However, the federal government has made some changes recently that provide some tax benefits to same-sex couples who are in a civil union. In 2018, the IRS began allowing same-sex spouses to file their taxes jointly without having to file as individuals. This helps same-sex couples to take advantage of the marriage tax benefits that heterosexual couples have had access to since the Supreme Court ruling in 2015. Although the IRS does not recognize civil unions for tax filing purposes, many employers and states recognize civil unions for tax purposes. Some companies will allow same-sex partners to file as a couple, and some states may offer civil union couples additional tax benefits for filing jointly. Overall, civil unions are not formally recognized by the IRS for tax filing purposes. However, some employers and states may offer additional tax benefits that are available to civil unions. It is important to check with your employer and state to determine what additional taxes you may be eligible for if you are in a civil union.
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