IRS expands services for visually impaired taxpayers

The Internal Revenue Service is improving the accessibility of its forms, publications and correspondence to blind and visually disabled taxpayers as a result of the settlement in a lawsuit brought by the National Federation of the Blind.

The settlement, which was reached in July 2020, requires the IRS to produce certain of its forms and publications in alternative formatting for visually impaired taxpayers. The IRS has been expanding its efforts over the years to improve its array of forms and publications in multiple languages, including American Sign Language.

However, the settlement prompted the IRS to create Form 9000, Alternative Media Preference, which allows a taxpayer to elect to receive certain types of written correspondence, in the following formats:

1. Large Print;
2. Braille;
3. Audio (MP3);
4. Plan text file (TXT); or
5. Braille-ready file (BRF).

National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins hailed the improvements in a blog post last week. "These welcome changes will make the IRS more accessible to visually impaired taxpayers and is yet another step toward ensuring all taxpayers will have equal access to information regarding their taxes and their rights as taxpayers," she wrote. "It also demonstrates the IRS's goal of improving taxpayer service for all taxpayers."

Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg