If you’ve got one of those new-fangled gay civil unions, don’t bother trying to file a tax return with H&R Block says the Hartford Courant:

After 23 months of same-sex, civil-union bliss, Jason Smith and Settimio Pisu had grown accustomed to some institutions being not quite ready for the concept of gay spouses.

There was that long day at the DMV trying to jointly register a car, which ended pleasantly enough with an apology from a clerk.

And don’t even ask the Guilford couple about their adoption stories.

Still, Smith and Pisu weren’t ready for the online message that popped up as they tried to file their taxes on H&R Block’s website: “We don’t support Connecticut Civil Union returns.”

The ACLU thinks this is some bullshit and so do we:

As the American Civil Liberties Union noted Tuesday in a letter to H&R Block, that’s discrimination under a Connecticut law that forbids denying “full and equal accommodation” on the basis of sexual orientation or civil-union status.

“We therefore demand that H&R Block cease immediately this discrimination against taxpayers in civil unions,” Rebecca Shore, an ACLU lawyer, said in a letter to H&R Block’s interim CEO, Alan Bennett.

H&R Block, based in Kansas City, Mo., said in an e-mailed statement that it was evaluating ways to offer online support to couples in civil unions and domestic partnerships. The company said its competitors have similar problems.

“Please be assured that H&R Block values all of its clients and is committed to serving all clients fairly,” said Denise Sposato, a company spokeswoman.

Hurry it up, H&R Block. It’s almost tax time! For those of you who think you may run into this problem, the article says that TurboTax works just fine with Connecticut civil unions.

Same-Sex Couple Blocked By H & R [Harford Courant]
(Photo:Maulleigh)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.