The Supreme Court ruling legalizing marriage in all states for same-sex couples is a landmark decision in the equal rights arena. However, the ruling also has important financial and tax implications—implications that same-sex clients now need to be advised upon in order to avoid any planning surprises down the road.

While the ruling eliminates the patchwork of state-specific rules that could confuse even the most competent financial advisor, it is critical that advisors in all states familiarize themselves with the important planning issues that same-sex couples now need to consider — whether or not they have chosen to marry.

Read: Sponsors welcome clarity in same-sex marriage ruling

Some of the issues are fairly simple and well-settled, but the subtleties and complexities of the rules need to be considered in order for same-sex married couples to make informed planning decisions going forward.

Read: SCOTUS decision means boon in Social Security for same-sex couples

Estate and gift tax issues

While same-sex spouses now have the same rights as opposite-sex spouses to inherit from one another even in the absence of a will, federal estate tax rules have evolved in recent years to make it easier for married couples to avoid transfer taxes when passing wealth after death. Same-sex clients are now able to take advantage of these special rules.

For example, the $5.43 million (in 2015) exemption is portable between spouses if an election is made on a properly-filed estate tax return — meaning that same-sex couples can now count on shielding a combined $10.86 million from estate taxes without worrying about which spouse technically owns the assets.

Read: Tax changes for 2015: What to expect

Same-sex married couples should be advised to review their estate planning documents to take into account the fact that these taxpayers are now entitled to both the portability election and the marital deduction.

Similarly, in the gift tax arena, married couples are permitted to pool their $14,000 (in 2015) annual gift tax exclusion so that each couple is able to make annual tax-free gifts of up to $28,000 per donee.

Income tax

Married same-sex couples in all states will now have the right to file both joint federal and state income tax returns, rather than two separate returns, for the 2016 tax year, as well as for all other open years. For couples who had filed separate federal returns for simplicity because they lived in a state that did not recognize same-sex marriage, amending a past year’s return could lead to higher returns in some cases.

For other same-sex couples, however, choosing to marry and file a joint return can actually increase tax liability. In the past, same-sex couples generally had the opportunity to file two single (or two head-of-household) tax returns without worrying about the “marriage penalty” for filing separately that applies to a legally married couple.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling, same-sex couples now must make the same cost-benefit analysis that applies to opposite-sex couples in determining whether to file jointly. A single taxpayer crosses the earnings threshold into the 39.6 percent tax bracket when he or she earns more than $400,000 for the year — meaning that two single taxpayers could live together and earn almost $800,000 before entering the highest tax bracket. Two married people, on the other hand, become subject to this rate when they have combined earnings of only $450,000 for the year.

Similarly, if a couple is not married, they can earn $400,000 ($200,000 each) before their itemized deductions and personal exemptions become subject to the phaseout rules that gradually reduce their value. Once that same couple is married, the penalties kick in at $250,000 — total.

The investment income tax will also apply to a married couple earning a combined $250,000 (while two unmarried taxpayers could earn $400,000 before crossing the threshold).

Social Security

Same-sex couples who marry may find that a greater portion of their Social Security benefits may be subject to taxation, as the couple’s combined income could cause them to pass the thresholds that apply in determining whether (and to what extent) these benefits are taxable.

However, same-sex couples may now take advantage of Social Security spousal benefits. A married spouse who never worked (or who isn’t ready to begin claiming benefits) is still entitled to claim Social Security spousal benefits when his or her spouse uses the “file and suspend” strategy. Under this strategy, one spouse files for benefits and immediately suspends those benefits after the second spouse begins claiming spousal benefits.

This allows the couple to claim some Social Security benefits while allowing their earnings-based retirement benefits to grow.

Retirement accounts

Same-sex married couples are now entitled to the same spousal benefits as have always applied to opposite-sex spouses. For example, a surviving spouse is entitled to roll over IRA funds that are inherited from a deceased spouse into his or her own account, delaying required minimum distributions (and the associated tax liability) until the surviving spouse reaches age 70 ½. A non-spousal beneficiary, on the other hand, is not entitled to delay distributions and must take distributions over his or her life expectancy (or a five-year period, whichever method is elected).

Further, pension plans are required to provide qualified joint and survivor annuities as the typical form of retirement benefit for married participants unless both the employee and the spouse consent to waive this requirement.

If the retirement plan is covered by ERISA, the participant’s spouse may automatically be the beneficiary, which means that if a same-sex married spouse wishes for the benefits to be transferred to a non-spousal beneficiary (such as a child) upon his or her death, he or she must now affirmatively make the election.

If a plan participant is married and wishes to take out a loan from his or her retirement plan, the participant’s spouse must generally consent. Further, plans must comply with qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), which are often used to divide retirement plan assets in a divorce proceeding. Same-sex spouses are now entitled to all of these rights under various retirement plans.

Life insurance

If a same-sex couple purchased individual life insurance policies designed to provide a surviving spouse with liquidity upon the death of a first-to-die spouse in order to pay estate taxes, the couple may wish to revise this plan in light of the portability and marital deduction options discussed above.

A survivorship policy, which pays benefits upon the death of the second spouse and may be less expensive, may be more appropriate if the goal of the married couple is to provide benefits to children or other heirs upon the death of the second spouse.

Health insurance

Health insurance plans will now likely be required to offer coverage to same-sex spouses on the same basis as it is offered to opposite-sex spouses. While the issue has not yet been fully settled, it is likely that employers who offer health coverage to an employee’s spouse will simply offer that coverage to all spouses in the future — it simplifies administration of the plans and also avoids any discrimination lawsuits that could result if the employer limited coverage to opposite-sex spouses.

Importantly, same-sex spouses will now unquestionably be treated as family, so that if one spouse requires hospitalization, the other will have access to medical information regarding the hospitalized spouse’s condition, as well as to visitation rights — without having to worry about whether the specific state recognizes their marriage.

However, one consequence of this development is that many employers who currently offer domestic partner benefits could choose to eliminate those options. While employers can clearly continue to offer domestic partner benefits, it is worth noting that in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision, several large companies have already chosen to eliminate these benefits in states where same-sex marriage was legal (though most have provided a grace period time frame for the couples to marry or find other options).

Conclusion

The Supreme Court ruling has legalized same-sex marriage throughout the country, but that is by no means the end of the analysis — same-sex couples must be advised upon the financial and tax issues (both positive and negative) that legal marriage creates in order to avoid surprises down the road.

Robert Bloink and William H. Byrnes are the authors of 2015 Tax Facts on Individuals and Small Business, which focuses exclusively on what individuals and small businesses need to know to maximize opportunities under today's often-complex tax rules. It is the essential tax reference for financial planners and insurance professionals.

Your questions and comments are always welcome. Please post them at our blog, AdvisorFYI, or call the Panel of Experts.

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What the same-sex marriage ruling means for insurance

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