4 Days 'til Tax Day: Without equality, who’s got you covered?

Insurance coverage, from health to auto to disability to life, is an important protection for every family.

The legal status of marriage gives couples and families the opportunity to have shared insurance without tax penalties.

The continued exclusion of same-sex couples and their kids from marriage makes it more expensive – and in some cases financially impossible – for these families to access the everyday protections that come with insurance coverage.

Did you know...

• Dependent health and life insurance, for both children and spouses, is tax-free for a married couple, whereas an unmarried couple is taxed (often more than once, both federally and by the state). Denied marriage, same-sex couples are excluded from this tax benefit, among many others.

• Civil unions and/or domestic partnerships are not a “good enough” solution for same-sex couples. Even with these second-class alternatives to marriage, the federal government will continue to consider the insurance taxable income, possibly adding $10,000 or more per year to their income level, and resulting in higher taxes.

Get Active! Get Engaged!

Now what should you do with this information? How can you help? When you are talking about filing taxes this week, talk about these inequalities. And keep talking...

Talk to your neighbors. Tell your own story. Educate yourself. Contact your elected representatives. Get to know your local and statewide political advocacy organizations. Contact the leaders of groups of which you are a member. Write a newspaper, magazine, TV station, radio station or other media outlet. Create a visibility event. Host or sponsor a house party. Host or sponsor a family picnic. Ask someone you know — or everyone you know — to get engaged in this movement. Talk to your religious leaders about how to engage your faith community.

Who can you call to get answers to your specific tax-related questions?

Individuals, couples and families seeking tax advice should contact a personal tax preparer, accountant, or attorney.

If you are a reporter or an attorney with questions about tax time and marriage equality, contact Lambda Legal.

For a full list of the protections denied same sex couples and their kids, see "Appendix B" of Evan Wolfson's book, Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality & Gay People's Right to Marry.

For more information on Why Marriage Matters at Tax Time, or any other time, log on to our website at www.freedomtomarry.org.