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H&R Block Accused Of Charging Gay Couples More
To File Taxes
by The Associated Press
Posted: March 26, 2008 - 7:30 am ET
(Hartford, Connecticut) The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut
wants H&R Block to modify its tax preparation system to allow gay
couples in civil unions to file their state taxes online.
The ACLU is representing a Hartford couple that tried to file their
Connecticut taxes using the company's online system in January, only to be told
that the tax preparer's system couldn't accommodate civil unions.
A message said H&R Block's computer program doesn't “support
Connecticut civil unions” and advised the couple to visit an H&R Block
office or contact a professional by phone. But ACLU said that is discriminatory
because it would be more time-consuming and cost the couple about $155 more to
file their taxes.
“We're saving for a house and hoping to start a family, so every penny
counts right now,” said Jason Smith of Hartford, who has been with his partner
Settimio Pisu for six years.
Messages were left seeking comment with a representative for Kansas
City-based H&R Block Inc.
Under Connecticut law, gay and lesbian couples can enter into civil unions,
which grant the same state rights and privileges as marriage. Since 2005, 1,846
couples have received civil union licenses in Connecticut, according to the
state's Department of Public Health.
In a letter to H&R Block, ACLU attorney Rebecca Shore said the company's
failure to support online filing for taxpayers in civil unions and the
imposition of a higher fee “constitute clear discrimination” based on
Connecticut's civil union statute.
Shore said it appears that married same-sex couples in neighboring
Massachusetts can use the online tax filing program.
ACLU is demanding that H&R Block immediately provide free, online support
for self-filing of state tax returns by taxpayers in civil unions. Also, the
organization wants H&R Block to reimburse all customers in civil unions
who've already paid the extra charges imposed on them for filing their state tax
returns.
Since the federal government does not recognize civil unions, the couples are
not filing joint federal returns. Besides Connecticut, Vermont, California, New
Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Washington and Oregon have laws allowing either
civil unions or domestic partnerships. Hawaii extends some rights to same-sex
couples and cohabiting heterosexual couples.
Gay rights advocates testified before the Connecticut legislature earlier
this month that civil unions are misunderstood by the general public and argue
that it makes more sense to allow the couples to marry.
©365Gay.com 2008
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