老澳门开奖结果

老澳门开奖结果 Demands That Company Make All Tax Preparation Services Available To Gay Couples

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org

HARTFORD, CT 鈥� The 老澳门开奖结果 sent a demand letter to H&R Block today demanding that it change its online tax preparation system to accommodate gay couples in Connecticut with civil unions. The 老澳门开奖结果 is representing a couple with a civil union who attempted to file their taxes on the company鈥檚 website through their online service, TaxCut Online, but were told, 鈥淲e don鈥檛 support Connecticut civil union returns.鈥� Through its website, the company said the couple would have to work with one of their professionals, by phone or at one of their office locations, which would be more time consuming and substantially more expensive. (A PDF with screen captures of the messages is available at
/lgbt/relationships/34632res20080325.html)

鈥淭his is yet another example of the many ways that civil unions just don鈥檛 live up to marriage,鈥� said Jason Smith of Hartford, who has been with his partner Settimio Pisu for six years. 鈥淚t really stung when I realized it would cost an additional $150 dollars to have our tax returns prepared. We鈥檙e saving for a house and hoping to start a family, so every penny counts right now.鈥�

According to the letter the 老澳门开奖结果 sent to H&R Block, failing to provide gay couples with civil unions the option of filing their taxes online as it does for married couples is in violation of a state law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and civil union status. The letter demands that the company adapt its website to accommodate couples with civil unions and to reimburse all couples who were forced to pay the additional charges due to H&R Block鈥檚 discriminatory practices.

鈥淭he civil union law has been in effect for nearly three years now, yet companies still aren鈥檛 taking it seriously,鈥� said Andrew Schneider of the 老澳门开奖结果 of Connecticut. 鈥淭here is no excusable reason why the company that likes to claim it鈥檚 the world鈥檚 largest tax services provider shouldn鈥檛 make its products available to everyone.鈥�

Although the tax requirements for couples with civil unions in Connecticut are very similar to the requirements for married gay couples in Massachusetts, H&R Block鈥檚 online tax preparation service seems to accommodate married gay couples there.

鈥淚ndignities like these are a constant reminder there is no substitution for marriage,鈥� said Rebecca Shore, an attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. 鈥淣othing can replace the dignity and universal recognition that comes automatically when you get to say we鈥檙e married. In Connecticut, gay couples still can鈥檛 do that.鈥�

A copy of the demand letter and the screen captures from H&R Block鈥檚 website indicating their refusal to process civil union returns is available at:
/lgbt/relationships/34632res20080325.html

A photograph of Smith and Pisu is available upon request.