Did you know there’s a U.S. tax credit for accessibility work?

Here’s a secret that most small business owners have no idea exists.

The IRS offers the Disabled Access Credit under Section 44 of the Internal Revenue Code. It covers 50% of eligible accessibility expenses between $250 and $10,250 per year. The maximum credit is $5,000 annually, and unlike a deduction, which reduces your taxable income, a credit reduces your actual tax bill dollar for dollar.

Digital accessibility work qualifies. Website audits, remediation work, and accessibility testing are all eligible expenses alongside physical accessibility improvements.

Who qualifies:

Your business must meet one of these two conditions in the prior tax year:

• Total revenues of $1 million or less
• 30 or fewer full-time employees

Most small businesses and agencies will qualify for at least one of those conditions.

How to claim it:

File IRS Form 8826 (Disabled Access Credit) with your tax return. Keep documentation of eligible expenses and their accessibility purpose.

I’d recommend talking to your CPA or tax advisor to confirm what qualifies for your specific situation. However, if you’ve been putting off accessibility work due to budget constraints, this credit is worth knowing about.

Making investments in accessibility is more affordable than most small businesses realize, and this is a great example of that.