[NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] Blind Taxpayers Sue the IRS

Thu Jul 25 15:22:20 UTC 2019

I’m so glad nfb is assisting with this.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Danielsen, Chris via State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <
state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 25, 2019 at 11:09 AM
Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] Blind Taxpayers Sue the IRS
To: Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen at nfb.org>
CC: Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen at nfb.org>

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
*Blind Taxpayers Sue the IRS*

*Print-only Notices Result in Financial Penalties for Blind Taxpayers*

*San Francisco (July 25, 2019): *Berkeley businesswoman Karen Rose, who is
blind, was about to throw away what she thought was junk mail when a friend
noticed that it was from the IRS. It turned out to be a second notice that
she owed nearly $25,000 in additional taxes. When she contacted the agency,
she learned that she had also incurred an additional $1,500 in interest and
penalties because she hadn’t responded to the first notice. A
representative from an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center helped her appeal the
penalties when Karen explained that she couldn’t read the printed letters.
The appeal was denied. She has since received a check for $77 from the
agency but has heard nothing about the request she made to receive future
notices in Braille or another alternative format.

Ms. Rose and two other blind taxpayers who had similar experiences, along
with the National Federation of the Blind, are suing the IRS for not
providing notices in alternative formats such as Braille, large print,
electronic documents, or audio. They are represented by attorneys from the
Baltimore law firm of Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP and Disability Rights
California, the protection and advocacy system for the state. The suit,
filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, San
Francisco Division, alleges that the IRS policy of only communicating with
taxpayers via hard-copy, standard-print letters violates Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

“Over forty-five years ago, Congress told federal and state governments
that they must make their programs accessible to blind people, including
providing information in alternative formats like Braille and audio,” said
Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “Today’s
technology makes accessible communication easier than ever, but the IRS
still isn’t meeting its legal and moral obligations to blind taxpayers, and
this sometimes results in penalties and other hardships. We are determined
to force this powerful agency to treat blind taxpayers equally as required
by law.”

“It’s never too late to do the right thing. Through this case, the IRS now
has a chance to hear from people who would willingly pay their fair share
of taxes but cannot access the IRS’s current print-only notice system,”
said Autumn Elliot, senior counsel, Disability Rights California.

*###*

*About the National Federation of the Blind *

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded
in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the
fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of
blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families
with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We
believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to
transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and
initiatives at www.nfb.org.

*CONTACT:*

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org

*About Disability Rights California (DRC) *

Disability Rights California is a non-profit organization founded in 1978.
We protect the rights of people with disabilities. For more information,
visit www.disabilityrightsca.org.

*CONTACT:*

Melody Pomraning

Communications Director

Disability Rights California

(916) 504-5938

Melody.Pomraning at disabilityrightsca.org

This release is also available at:
https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-taxpayers-sue-irs

Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.

Director of Public Relations

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g>

(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen at nfb.org

Twitter: @rlawyer

[image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>

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The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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-- 
Sheri Koch, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
304-993-5103