Anyone who is married and who files taxes could have seen this coming from a mile away. The Defense of Marriage Act was struck down by the Supreme Court last year, taking with it unfair tax discrimination against married same sex couples. Now, same sex couples who are legally married in one of the 19 states, Washington D.C. or another foreign jurisdiction can file federal taxes as married. This is true for same sex couples who are married but live in a jurisdiction that does not recognize that marriage.

But what about state taxes? That’s where it gets more tricky. Since each state has their own tax guidelines, there isn’t one blanket rule for same sex married couples. In those states that don’t allow same sex couples to marry, otherwise married couples have to file their state taxes separately.

Read more at Care2.com

Care2 is the largest online community of people passionate about making a difference.

The post Lawsuits challenge Kansas state tax discrimination first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Many of the day-to-day things we do are just habit.

That $10 lunch habit? That $30-per-class spinning habit? While you may barely even think about them, costly habits have the potential to wreak havoc on your budget.

And, just like bad habits can get you into financial trouble, good habits can help keep you out of it — and help you spend wisely, save well and, most important, reach your biggest financial goals faster.

View the money-saving slideshow at LearnVest

LearnVest is the leading personal finance site for women. Our free Money Center will help you create a budget. Our free bootcamps will help you take control of your money, cut your costs or get out of debt. And our premium financial plans–managed by LearnVest Certified Financial Planners–can help you chart a course for the future you want.

The post 10 money habits that can make a difference today first appeared on Lesbian.com.

From credit cards to student loans, there are tons of different ways to get wrapped up in debt.

Getting out of it can seem intimidating, but avoiding these common debt mistakes will help you do so as quickly and smoothly as possible.

1. Falling Into Credit Card Debt

What we mean: Don’t spend beyond your means every month and depend on your credit card to make up the difference.

Why: Using credit cards for everyday stuff like groceries and gas can land you reward points and even cash back. And cards are essential for things like booking a flight. But lingering credit card debt is especially nasty, because the interest, which is generally high, is added to your existing balance every day.

How to avoid it: Only pull out the plastic if you’re positive you can and will pay off the balance at the end of the month.

Already made this mistake? You’re not alone. Collectively, Americans owe more than $800 billion in credit card debt. The first thing to do is to stop charging and digging yourself deeper into debt. You can stop the cycle by setting up a cash budget. Then, pay off your cards one by one, starting with the one with the highest interest rate.

Read more at LearnVest

LearnVest is the leading personal finance site for women. Our free Money Center will help you create a budget. Our free bootcamps will help you take control of your money, cut your costs or get out of debt. And our premium financial plans–managed by LearnVest Certified Financial Planners–can help you chart a course for the future you want.

The post Top debt mistakes to avoid first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Emotional spending is nothing new–we’re probably more likely to splurge on a shiny top or tempting snack when we’re feeling emotionally vulnerable. But new research shows that people who are feeling down also make other kinds of bad financial choices.

For instance, when given the choice between getting some money immediately or more money later, sad people are more likely to accept less money right away–which is the poorer choice. (And unfortunately, women are more stressed by bad news than men are.)

Read more at LearnVest

LearnVest is the leading personal finance site for women. Our free Money Center will help you create a budget. Our free bootcamps will help you take control of your money, cut your costs or get out of debt. And our premium financial plans–managed by LearnVest Certified Financial Planners–can help you chart a course for the future you want.

The post Feeling down? Don’t make financial decisions first appeared on Lesbian.com.

A new poll commissioned by Logo TV found that the economy ranks as the top issue among LGBT voters going into the presidential election.

Eighteen percent of the 1,190 self-identified LGBT voters whom Harris Interactive polled on behalf of the network between Aug. 10-15 listed the economy as their primary concern. Fourteen percent of respondents indicated unemployment and jobs as their top priority going into November, while health care ranked third with 12 percent. Nine percent of respondents listed “gay rights in general” as their top priority, while only six percent said marriage rights for same-sex couples is the most important issue.

The poll found that the economy, unemployment and jobs and health care are also the top three issues among 1,367 “general population voters.” Eleven percent of these respondents listed the federal budget deficit as the most important issue. Only one percent said gay rights and nuptials for same-sex couples were their top priorities going into November.

Read more at Washington Blade

Washington Blade is America’s leading gay news source.

The post Poll shows economy top issue among LGBT voters first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Gay and lesbian couples in Germany can now pay the same amount of taxes as married heterosexual couples. The welcomed change comes as a surprising turn of events during Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative administration.

When legal partnerships for gay and lesbian couples were first created in 2001, the law still lacked proper tax equality definition. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union administration has been against tax equality efforts until members of the party recently called for a re-examination of the law.

Read more at dot429.com

The post German court demands tax equality for LGBT couples first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Same-sex couples who live in states that don’t recognize gay marriage or civil unions are out of luck when it comes to estate taxes, facing much higher rates when one partner passes away than do their peers who are legally married.

The discriminatory nature of tax laws was illustrated by a recent case in Pennsylvania, where Marie Himmelberger’s longtime partner Sharon Warnock passed away in 2010. Himmelberger and Warnock were in fact legally joined in New Jersey after a 2007 civil union. However, Warnock was a resident of Pennsylvania, which didn’t recognize her union, nor any other legal representation of a same-sex relationship.

Read more at dot429.com

The post LGBT couples face estate tax rip-off first appeared on Lesbian.com.

“The Salon Series: Conversations about Success” will continue on Wednesday, July 25, in San Francisco. The topic for this second in a series of six events is “Women’s Focus” and will feature speaker Jana Rich, Managing Director of Russell Reynolds Associates with an introduction by Ryan Christine Coulson, Wealth Planning Strategist, California Wealth Planning Group.

The hosted cocktails event, sponsored by dot429, Wells Fargo, Sweet and Lesbian.com, will be held at the beautiful Foreign Cinema at 2534 Mission Street from 6p.m to 9p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door with proceeds benefiting Shanti’s Breast Cancer Program.

Learn more about the event at Facebook and RSVP at dot429.com.

The post ‘The Salon Series: Conversations about Success’ to be held in San Francisco first appeared on Lesbian.com.