H&R Block Offering $100 Coupons Or Free Software To Same-Sex Couples Who Were Denied Online Service

Chris Walters — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:20:38 EDT

It's too late for this year's tax season (unless you're doing it wrong), but H&R has issued an apology of sorts by announcing it will give a $100 coupon or free TaxCut software to gay couples who were shut out of their online programs this year due to a programming oversight. Don't expect to take advantage of the offer if you were turned away online and went elsewhere, though—the offer is only good for "civil union, domestic and same sex partner clients, who started with TaxCut online and then completed their returns in one of our retail offices." If you fit that requirement, you can request the coupon or software here.

"H&R Block apologizes for gays' tax snafus" [Gay.com] (Thanks to Sharon!)

H&R Block Doesn't "Support" Gay Civil Unions

Meg Marco — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:02:21 EDT

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)

Consumerist: civil unions

H&R Block Offering $100 Coupons Or Free Software To Same-Sex Couples Who Were Denied Online Service

H&R Block Doesn't "Support" Gay Civil Unions