On Friday night, I licked some envelopes, added some stamps, and mailed rights to my firstborn checks and paperwork to the IRS.
Tax season. My least favorite time of year. In a period of sky-high rent, an inflated cost of living, and absurdly priced groceries ($5 for a carton of almond milk?? Seriously, Hoboken?!), it’s no wonder so many are selling their earthly possessions and looking for extra side work and roommates.
Now that I’m working as an independent contractor, I have to estimate my taxes for the year, pay quarterly, and make sure every dime is accounted for or Uncle Sam storms into my apartment and goes through my drawers for extra loot (good luck!). I can understand why some might want to sign a marital contract simply to evade having to pay extra in rent, taxes, health insurance, social security, etc. It’s daunting. And while it’s nice to know that I can write off so many business expenses for the first time, this won’t happen until the end of the year after I’ve already forked over more than I should for everyday necessities.
I read an article recently about the price of being single in America told from the female perspective (also, just for clarity, I’m referring to people who aren’t married when I refer to singles in this post). I found many of the statistics particularly startling, especially when you factor in how much money you can save simply by getting hitched.
“If a single person dies without children, her money will—must—go into the system to be provided to whomever needs it most, which is good because that was the original intent of Social Security. However, if a married person dies, the money can be routed back to her family.”
Why isn’t a single person entitled to leave those benefits to his/her lover? Friend? Family member? According to the calculations in this article from the Atlantic, a single person earning $80,000/year could easily spend a million dollars more than his or her married peer over the course of a lifetime on healthcare, taxes, etc. Reading this article made me much more aware of the fact that the laws in this country discriminate against half the population–singles.
I also came upon another article published by the Huffington Post about what would happen if we began to look at singles as the new normal. Not only would we no longer have to answer the dreaded “when-are-you-going-to-get-married?” question at dinner parties, but it may also alter the way the travel, housing, and food industries treat the needs of half the population.
Today I stand with the Communication League for Unmarried Equality (CLUE) and many bloggers who are writing about the same topic. April 15th (Tax Day) was chosen as a symbolic reminder that the laws of this country need to be revised to help singles who aren’t entitled to the same benefits as their married friends. Many thanks to Eleanore S. Wells who turned me on to this important topic.
What do you think? I would love to hear your opinions in the comments below!
I’ve seen the flip side, where being married we actually get taxed higher. But I’ve never heard of the law about not being able to pass on money to your loved ones! That’s outrageous. PS I fully support marriage equality and it makes me livid that some of my closest friends, who happen to have chosen same sex partners, can’t get legally wed. It’s just absurd.
Yeah, man. I hear ya. Sometimes Tom and I talk about getting married just for the practicalities. Do you know that same-sex couples can share in the health benefits at his company, but I am not entitled to the same because we’re a hetero couple? And the argument is, “but you can get married.” I wonder if they will change it if/when same-sex marriage becomes legal in New York (if it isn’t already). But it’s really ridiculous how archaic the system is in this regard.
If a single person has a Will, they can leave their money to whomever they want. I’ve never realized the importance of having a will until my parents passed, because if they didn’t have one, it would have been a disaster. So single or not, everyone should get a lawyer and have one drawn up. And yes, the laws for singles really stink and need to change.
I totally echo what Nicole said about same sex couples being able to share in benefits at certain companies but hetero couples being unable to until they’re hitched. It’s so weird. Makes me wonder who made these rules.
Then again, where could you draw the line? You could say “Well if you’re living together then you can have the same advantages.” But then people would just move in together for that reason.
Anyway, I’m babbling, lol.
I’ve been married since I was 21, but I have to admit, the major factor for us getting married so quick after college was taxes and insurance savings.
Yea, I’m with you. I just think there needs to be more uniformity without punishing individuals for being married or not being married in the form of taxes or anything else relating to money. It’s going to take a lot of time but, I think, slowly, with the re-definition of marriage/love/relationships – changes for single individuals will arise as well.
Would you do me the honor of reviewing Blue Mermaid?
I love what Gia said. In this ever-changing world, there are just too many disparities around the institution of marriage. And many backwards ideas and practices. I don’t know. I only noticed that after buying a house and having a baby in the same year (which I don’t recommend), it was the first tax season we didn’t owe a ton of money.
Once upon a time I wrote about how singles are treated in every which way, and it is disturbing and annoying. I went to a bank one day, while house hunting many moons ago, to see what I would qualify for, and the mortgage officer said to me, and these are words I will NEVER FORGET – “You need to get a husband”. I stopped house hunting after that sentence and never went to the bank again. Despite having perfect credit, substantial savings, a good job and no debt, that was what that woman…WOMAN…said to me. I to this day find it utterly distasteful. I have enough problems – being single should never be one of them. I sent off an email to a hotel in Europe this week where they give you 7 euros off the double room if you REALLY are travelling alone. I felt they needed some acknowledgement cause I am tired of paying for a double room as a single woman! I could go on here…lol..but will stop now.
I believe Elizabeth Gilbert discusses some of this in her book, Committed. Equality seems to be something we will always be evolving towards, thanks to those who are willing to ask for it.
It might also be interesting to note that the idea of marrying for love didn’t come into fashion until the last century or so. Marriage came into existence as a financial contract and remained that way for most of its history. (Shocking, right?)
Sadly, I also remember learning back in college that the largest demographic in poverty and on welfare is single mothers. With 250,000 kids entering the foster system every year in the US, I wonder if these marriage incentives were originally meant to keep families together and kids at home.
I think that we do far too much flexing and bending for the government than they do for us. We as a people are changing every day. They need to get with the times.
I’m not sure how this all works in Canada. I’ve been married a long time. An old hag. hee hee.
For those wondering about the inheritance comment, it regarded Social Security benefits. There is NO one a single person without children can leave their social security benefits to. However, marrieds can leave them to each other and even to ex-spouses if the marriage lasted 10 or more years. Also, there is no circumstance under which a single person pays less than a married couple per person on a tax return. There is a way for married couples to pay less (I can’t remember whether it is to file jointly or singly), but regardless of what the married couple decides, each person in the married couple will pay less than a single person (all other factors being equal).
I don’t know enough about the US tax laws to understand the situation you’re describing. I hope your action day has been successful in raising awareness, though. I have some gay friends over there who can’t get married in their state even though they desperately want to – I’m guessing they must also be affected, I know they have issues with pensions and other benefits.
There is a benefit to being married one of the reasons I didn’t really want to play house with anyone if we were going to pay bills together we were going to get married and gain benefits. I know we did our taxes the first year we got married and got more back being married than filing separate. Stopping over from #sitssharefest
What a crock of shit! Seriously, what the hell is THAT all about? It angers me that a single person can’t leave his or her things to whomever they want. Absolute crap. And yes, utter discrimination. Like, what, it’s such a “privilege” to get married and everyone has to do it? Gimme a break! Sure, marriage is wonderful for those who want it and find the right person, but for those who don’t WANT to get married…I mean, whaaaa? Nuts.