mydesert.com is reporting that the IRS has decided to recognize that California domestic partners have community property rights under existing law. (Most of us (including my husband and I) who remain gay-married here also maintain domestic partnerships because some states recognize one union but not the other. I don't know how many, if any, gay couples are married but not in d.p.s, and the article doesn't address the affect of this ruling on such couples.)
Of course, the IRS still requires us to file separately, but apparently we are now to average our incomes and then each file a separate, but basically identical, federal return. (We are already required to file jointly for state taxes.)
This is being hailed by gay rights advocates as an important step forward. It will certainly be a major help to gay couples where one works while the other stays home to care for children.
Please let me add a shout-out to our accountant, who figures all this stuff out of us!
