Feds Ease Rules on Same-Sex Health Care Tax Breaks

The Obama administration is letting legally married same-sex couples claim some health care tax benefits for this year.

A notice Monday by the IRS and Treasury Department will let the couples take advantage this year of the Supreme Court's June ruling invalidating part of the Defense of Marriage Act.

The notice lets an employee receiving certain health care tax breaks to claim them for their same-sex spouse this year. Usually, an employee must make their selections about who qualifies for those tax breaks before a tax year begins. They normally cannot be changed until the next tax year.

Monday's notice covers flexible spending accounts, health care savings accounts and cafeteria plans.

In August, the government said same-sex couples will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.