The Gay Tax
Posted by AJ Kirwin on January 9th, 2009 filed in governmentFew people know about this, so I am making this entry so that people don’t get caught unawares when it comes to the issue of tax and domestic partner benefits. Let us tell a story.
I am somewhat unwell and so that I can find out what is wrong with me, when it came up for elections time at my partner’s employer, we thought we’d see if they covered domestic partners. Turns out, they do! And it wasn’t that much more either, only $45 extra per pay period (Which is a fortnight).
Well, this is a great deal we thought, sign us up. I can get healthy! Hooooray! Of course, time came that this actually kicked in and the first paycheck after this happened, was over a hundred dollars light. “What the fuck?”, said my partner. “They’re charging a fortune for you!”. So I investigated.
Turns out, that domestic partner coverage, unlike primary coverage (eg, the employee him/herself) isn’t tax-free. You heard me. Now, this applies to both straight AND gay couples, but there is a caveat. A straight couple can get married and in doing so, can avoid paying the tax on their healthcare. A gay couple cannot.
Yes, you heard me right. This is a tax that ONLY gay people are forced to bear. It is a tax on homosexuals. In our case, this comes out to the tune of about $130 a month. And that’s on top of the the money we’re already paying for the healthcare alone.
Yes, that’s $130 a month in extra taxes. Simply because we’re of the same gender, and we love each other.
Sickening, isn’t it.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Boooooo.
Effing lame. This definitely needs to be spread around.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:14 AM
How does this tax on health insurance compare to the discount on income tax for Married Filing Jointly vs. filing as individuals?
January 9th, 2009 at 11:21 AM
carl,
This isn’t about a discount on income tax. It’s about whether what you pay on healthcare for your domestic partner is taxable or not. For married couples, it is tax-free. For domestic partners.. it’s not.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
I can see what Carl (#2) is trying to get it, but it’s the wrong approach. It doesn’t matter if Bad Thing(tm) is offset by Good Thing(tm) somewhere else. In the closed system of health care taxes, you are getting screwed because of who you screw. And that’s wrong.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:57 PM
This poses an interesting question in states or municipalities (like mine) where domestic partnership laws are written such that those eligible for marriage (straight people) are ineligible for domestic partnerships.
January 10th, 2009 at 5:43 AM
You should be happy that you’re able to get health insurance through your domestic partner at all. Much as you homosexuals wish you had the rights that heterosexuals have, you don’t and I hope that you never do. You choose to live your lives differently, deal with the consequences of that choice.
January 10th, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Now that’s a bit harsh isn’t it? I mean the law is already screwing up with the marriage thing & it it’s not even a matter for THEM!!
Now this? That’s a low blow. -.-
—-
Oh and Suzy (6 lol):
Ma’am that’s cold, just who the blazes are you to say such a thing? You have no right to talk like that (and please don’t say otherwise if your in the US cause I’m there too & I DON’T CARE!) if you were (possibly) never talked to like that or even treated harshly. And I’m Straight too & unlike you I know what’s right & wrong on what to say.
January 10th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
I would argue that ALL tax benifits for same-sex married couples are not only unfair for gays, the are also unfair for HETEROs as well. What about a man who lives with and takes care of a disabled brother? What about two eldery women living together just for mutual support? There are many household where people partner together purely for financial reasons. And it’s wrong for the tax system not to help all households, despite their reasons for being. We should PRAISE the gay community for exposing systemic discrimination, and for advocating complete fairness for EVERYBODY. Thanks.