*Please note we are not tax experts or legal consultants and this is not legal advice. We advise you to talk to your tax advisor for confirmation.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to update your website, this is it! Under Section 44, the Disabled Access Credit, the IRS will pay you $5,000 in a tax deduction for eligible access expenditures to your website.
Why You Need to Update Your Website for Accessibility
The Americans With Disabilities Act helps bring access to all users of the internet. Not only is this great for individuals with disabilities, but it’s also great for your business because it opens up an opportunity for more customers.
In fact, 26% of Americans have some type of disability. Do the math. That means, if your website isn’t ADA compliant, over a quarter of the U.S. population won’t be able to successfully become a new customer for your business.
Not only that, but businesses can be (and have been) sued because their websites don’t comply with modern web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.1).
All you have to do to fix this is remove barriers that prevent potential customers from using your website. Sounds like a no-brainer to us!
IRS Incentivizes Accessibility With Business Tax Credit
Eligible small businesses that incur expenditures for making accommodations in the spirit of accessibility can now qualify for a $5,000 web design tax credit. This has been made possible by the IRS Code Section 44, Disabled Access Credit.
If you’re interested in claiming this credit for the 2021 tax year, you can fill out this form on the IRS website.
Does Your Business Qualify for the IRS Tax Credit?
If you’re a small business owner, you probably qualify for the Disabled Access Credit! Your business can be eligible for this IRS tax credit if:
- You have $1 million or less in gross receipts for the preceding tax year, OR
- You had 30 or fewer full-time employees during the preceding tax year.
You can check your eligibility with your tax advisor with this Disability-Related Tax Provisions Fact Sheet.
How to Make Your Website More Accessible for Potential Customers
Updating your website to be more accessible for potential customers is a win-win situation. You will be opening yourself to new business opportunities and avoiding a lawsuit at the same time. Now with the IRS tax incentive, it’s an even easier decision to make for your business.
At Designzillas, we have a full team of ferocious web designers and developers who are experts in WCAG 2.1 standards and how to code for accessibility. If you’re looking for assistance in auditing your site’s accessibility and making some improvements, we have your back.
Contact us for a free consultation on your website’s accessibility today!
