My business has requests from time to time to provide for interpreters and other services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Are there any tax benefits I can claim to assist me with these costs?
Good news! Assuming that your business counts as a “small business” under Section 44 of the Internal Revenue Code, you can get a tax credit of up to $15,000 for a variety of accessibility-related expenses, including sign language interpreters. Section 44 defines a small business as one that in the previous tax year either had revenues of $1 million or less or had 30 or fewer full-time employees. This tax credit, which is called the Disabled Access Credit, was created in 1990 to help small businesses afford ADA-related expenses. Be sure to familiarize yourself with how this credit is computed—you may want to consult your accountant. Here’s a list (taken from ADA.gov) of what can count toward this credit:
- Provision of readers for customers or employees with visual disabilities
- Provision of sign language interpreters
- Purchase of adaptive equipment
- Production of accessible formats of printed materials (i.e., Braille, large print, audio tape, computer diskette)
- Removal of architectural barriers in facilities or vehicles (alterations must comply with applicable accessibility standards)
- Fees for consulting services (under certain circumstances)
If you have more questions about this or if you need to know more about something else under the ADA, please contact the Northeast ADA Center at 800-949-4232, by email at northeastada@cornell.edu, or by submitting a question through our website.