Accessibility | Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is committed to ensuring that its website is accessible to all people. We have designed our web pages to meet or exceed the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and to conform to the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Levels A and AA. This commitment ensures that individuals with disabilities can access and navigate our website without any barriers.

Key Accessibility Features

To ensure accessibility, we have implemented the following features on our website:

1. Alternative Text for Images: All images on our website have alternative text, which provides a textual description of the image content. This allows individuals using screen readers or other assistive technologies to understand the visual information.
2. Color Contrast: We have ensured that there is sufficient contrast between the foreground and background colors on our website. This helps individuals with visual impairments to read and understand the content easily.
3. Headings for Structure: We use headings to provide structure to the content on our website. Headings help individuals using screen readers to navigate through the different sections of a webpage and understand the hierarchy of information.
4. Descriptive Link Text: The link text used on our website is descriptive and provides information about the destination of the link. This helps individuals using screen readers to understand the purpose of the link before activating it.
5. Accessible Tables: We use tables to display tabular information on our website. These tables have proper headings, which assist individuals using screen readers to understand the organization and context of the data.

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility refers to the design and development of websites and digital content that can be accessed and used by individuals with disabilities. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a Federal law that requires Federal agencies to make their information technology accessible to people with disabilities. This includes developing, procuring, and maintaining electronic and information technology (EIT) that is accessible to both employees and members of the public.

Accessibility User Guides

To assist users in accessing and using our website, we provide the following accessibility user guides:

1. Accessibility Guide for IRS.gov: This user guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to access and use the content on IRS.gov. It covers various accessibility features and tools available on our website.
2. Accessibility Guides for IRS Applications: These user guides and information resources are designed to help users access and use IRS applications. They provide specific instructions and tips for navigating and interacting with our applications.

Accessible Materials

We offer a range of accessible materials to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access IRS tax products and information. These materials include:

1. Accessible IRS Tax Products: We provide a list of accessible tax forms, instructions, and publications in Braille, large print, and Section 508 Compliant PDF formats. These formats cater to the needs of individuals with visual impairments.
2. American Sign Language (ASL) Videos: We have created a collection of American Sign Language (ASL) friendly YouTube videos. These videos provide information about various IRS topics and services in ASL, making them accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

At the IRS, we are dedicated to ensuring that our website and digital resources are accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. We strive to provide a seamless and inclusive experience for all users, and we continuously work to improve the accessibility of our online services.