Gallego Fights for Tax Equality for Married Couples

Legislation would retroactively give refunds to same-sex married couples who were denied opportunity to lower tax bill by filing jointly
WASHINGTON –On the ten-year anniversary ofObergefell v. Hodges, which recognized a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, and the twelve-year anniversary ofU.S. v. Windsor, which struck down as unconstitutional the federal definition of marriage as between one man and one woman,Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)backed the bipartisanRefund Equality Actto ensure that married same-sex couples can amend their tax returns back to the date of their marriage, helping them secure an estimated total of$55 million in refunds.
“Every married couple deserves to be treated equally under the law. But for years, same-sex married couples across the country were denied their joint tax returns,”said Senator Gallego.“I’m proud to back this bill to give those couples the refunds they’re entitled to.”
Specifically, theRefund Equality Actwould:
The legislation was introduced bySenators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)andSusan Collins (R-ME).
According to a2021 estimateby the Joint Committee on Taxation, this bill would return $55 million in refunds to taxpayers whose marriages were systematically discriminated against.
The legislation is also endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE), and the Movement Advancement Project.
6/27/25