This book examines the current federal income tax laws which differentiate among families by type and structure in several ways. This differentiation has changed considerably over the years and includes personal exemptions, standard deductions, rate schedules, and various other features such as child care credits, age exemptions, and earned income credits. Discussed also is the legislative history of the Child Tax Credit; dependent care tax benefits; the major provisions of the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes; and tax benefits for the adoption of children through federal grants to states and through the tax code.