Businesses can get up to $5,000 back from the IRS if they make their website accessible to people with disabilities.
Business owners can get up to $5,000 from the IRS if they make sure their business website is ADA compliant. This is a law that has been around for a while, so now is a great time to make sure your website follows the rules and you could save your business from getting sued.
About Website Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a civil rights law that many of us know about. When we think of following the ADA, we usually think of making sure there are accessible parking spots and providing help for employees who have disabilities. But, did you know that businesses must also make sure their websites are accessible too? This is because websites are considered public and must follow the ADA. To help people with disabilities, websites must have things like audio alternatives, pictures with alternative text, and the ability to navigate with a keyboard. To help businesses meet these standards, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) made a set of guidelines.
What if Your Website Isn’t Accessible?
You may be headed for a lawsuit down the road. If someone decides to sue your business because your website isn’t accessible for everyone, you’ll get a letter from their lawyer. You should talk to your own lawyer to make sure the letter is real. If it is, you’ll have to check your website and make sure it follows the ADA standards. It’s best to hire experts in accessibility, like Hester Designs, to make the changes or tell you what to do. Even if you don’t get a letter yet, talk to us and make sure your website is accessible. We can do a simple review or an extensive complete website audit and report. Just one of our may website development services.
More on the Tax Credit and Eligibility
Many small businesses that spent money to make sure their websites could be used by people with disabilities might be able to get money back from the government. The IRS says that you qualify if you had less than $1 million in revenue and fewer than 30 full-time employees in the last year. You can get up to 50% of the cost of the website changes back in the form of a tax credit. The cost must be between $250 and $10,000 for the year. To get the tax credit, you can fill out Form 8826 (Disabled Access Credit). Talk to your accountant or tax specialist to make sure you qualify and have the right expenses (listed on the second page of the form). Making sure your website is accessible to everyone is good for business and can also get you up to $5,000 back in taxes. The Americans with Disabilities Act helps people of all abilities have equal access to public spaces and websites. When everyone can use your website, everyone wins!
Added Benefits of an Accessible Website
- Faster load times
- Better SEO ranking
- More traffic
- Up to 15% larger audience
NOTE: Always consult your tax advisor for your specific situation. Not all websites can be perfectly compliant, and accessibility is not a “do it once” thing. It’s ongoing.
