S. 2014Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Refund Equality Act of 2021

Introduced June 10, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:09 AM UTC

The Refund Equality Act of 2021 lets legally married same‑sex couples change their tax filing status after the normal deadline. It extends the period they can file an amended return or claim a refund for tax years ending before September 16 2013, when the IRS ruling that recognized their marriage was not yet in effect. The extension applies only to changes that reflect a marital‑status update under the tax code.

Key Provisions

  • If a same‑sex couple filed separate returns for a year before September 16 2013 but could have filed jointly under the later IRS ruling, they may now treat that return as a separate return and have the time to file a joint return extended until the normal filing deadline for that year.
  • For such joint returns, the statute of limitations for claiming a credit or refund is extended until the normal filing deadline for that tax year, and the usual two‑year limit on refund claims does not apply.
  • The extension applies only to amendments or refund claims that involve a change in marital status; other types of amendments are not affected.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

June 10, 2021

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 10, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

June 10, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Introduced in SenateIssued June 10, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2014

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 10, 2021

Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Smith, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Markey, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Booker, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Reed, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Brown, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Warner, Mr. Peters, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Warnock, and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To permit legally married same-sex couples to amend their filing status for tax returns outside the statute of limitations.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Refund Equality Act of 2021.

2.

Extension of period of limitation for certain legally married couples

(a)

In general

In the case of an individual first treated as married for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by the application of the holdings of Revenue Ruling 2013–17—

(1)

if such individual filed a return (other than a joint return) for a taxable year ending before September 16, 2013, for which a joint return could have been made by the individual and the individual's spouse but for the fact that such holdings were not effective at the time of filing, such return shall be treated as a separate return within the meaning of section 6013(b) of such Code and the time prescribed by section 6013(b)(2)(A) for filing a joint return after filing a separate return shall not expire before the date prescribed by law (including extensions) for filing the return of tax for the taxable year that includes the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(2)

in the case of a joint return filed pursuant to paragraph (1)—

(A)

the period of limitation prescribed by section 6511(a) of such Code for any such taxable year shall be extended until the date prescribed by law (including extensions) for filing the return of tax for the taxable year that includes the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(B)

section 6511(b)(2) shall not apply to any claim of credit or refund with respect to such return.

(b)

Amendments, etc. restricted to change in marital status

Subsection (a) shall apply only with respect to amendments to the return of tax, and claims for credit or refund, relating to a change in the marital status for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of the individual.