Gay Married Couples in MD Must File Taxes Separately

The state legalized same-sex marriage, but without tax benefits

Maryland's same-sex couples will soon be allowed to marry, but they won't be allowed to file joint income-tax returns — making Maryland the first state to legalize gay marriage without giving extra tax privileges to the couples.

The state comptroller's office says it plans to continue requiring same-sex couples to file separate state-level income-tax returns as long as federal law requires separate federal returns, even though all other states recognizing same-sex marriage that collect income tax allow the couples to file jointly.

Maryland officials say they have no immediate plans to change the state's policy, even though they acknowledge that separate returns have added to paperwork for same-sex couples and sometimes force them to pay higher taxes.