News Release

OPA News Release: [(2/02/) 69]
Contact Name: 04/05/2004
Phone Number: Michael Volpe

Labor Department Urges Employers to Hire People with Disabilities as Tax Season Approaches

WASHINGTON—The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today reminded employers of the many benefits in hiring people with disabilities. Companies can utilize the skills and superior qualifications of the large pool of disabled workers, and also take advantage of the tax breaks available to them for hiring people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities have outstanding qualifications,” said Roy Grizzard, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Disability Employment Policy. “There are multiple benefits for businesses who hire the disabled. Not only does the company employ a desirable worker, they can also take advantage of tax credits available through the federal government. So during this tax season, businesses can both `do well’ and ‘do good.’”

According to a 2003 General Accounting Office report, only a very small portion of either corporate taxpayers, or individual taxpayers with a business affiliation, use the tax credits to encourage the hiring, retention, and accommodation of workers with disabilities. Explanations of the tax benefits can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section on ODEP’s website at www.dol.gov/odep. They include the Small Business Tax Credit: IRS Code Section 44, Disabled Access Credit, which helps small businesses cover the cost of making their businesses accessible to people with disabilities, up to a maximum benefit of $5,000; the Architectural/ Transportation Tax Deduction: IRS Code Section 190, Barrier Removal, which allows businesses an annual deduction of up to $15,000 for expenses incurred to remove physical, structural, and transportation barriers for persons with disabilities at the workplace; and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which allows employers tax credits of up to $2,400 for hiring people with disabilities.

Other resources ODEP offers to businesses to employ people with disabilities are the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and the Employer Assistance and Referral Network (EARN). JAN is a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities for people with disabilities, and can be reached at 1-800-526-7234 or at www.jan.wvu.edu. EARN, a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service, helps employers who have job vacancies to locate and recruit qualified workers with disabilities in their localities. EARN can be reached at 1-866-Earn Now (1-866-327-6669) or via its Website (www.earnworks.com). ODEP also encourages employers and employees to access its website at www.dol.gov/odep and also www.DisabilityInfo.Gov, a cross-government portal on disability easily accessible to all Americans.

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