Many states are finding their way in a post-Roe vs. Wade nation and Georgia is one of them. Georgia residents can now claim embryos as dependents on state taxes.
“In light of the June 24, 2022, U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and the July 20, 2022, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Sistersong v. Kemp, the Department will recognize any unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat … as eligible for the Georgia individual income tax dependent exemption,” the department said in a recent statement as reported by nbcnews.com.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled back in July that, “Georgia’s prohibition on abortions after detectable human heartbeat is rational.”
Embryo heartbeats can be detected as early as six weeks.
Georgia’s Living Infants and Fairness Equality Act “defines a ‘natural person’ as ‘any human being including an un-born child.” Each pregnant Georgia taxpayer who has “an unborn child (or children) with a detectable human heartbeat” can get $3,000 for each unborn child.
The state, of course, had to clarify the process for taxpayers to claim their embryos in order to receive the money.
“Similar to any other deduction claimed on an income tax return, relevant medical records or other supporting documentation shall be provided to support the dependent deduction claimed if requested by the Department.”
If you remember, back in June, the Supreme court voted 5-4 to overturn Roe vs. Wade, a half-century precedent, returning the issue of abortion to the states.
Judge Alito wrote in the opinion, “The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision…It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives,” he continued in the opinion, calling the original Roe decision “egregiously wrong and deeply damaging.”
Sound-off, we want to hear your thoughts on this new Georgia tax claim.
