Making Your Website ADA Compliant
If your website does not follow ADA guidelines, this signifies it is inaccessible to people living with disabilities. Having an inaccessible website may not be as obvious as denying a person physical access to your storefront, but the effects can be just as damaging.
The number of people utilizing online platforms for their everyday tasks is growing exponentially. People use websites for more than just shopping – they use them to access information such as the nearest medical facilities, information on voting, navigation, and updates on the news or weather. People living with disabilities are often denied access to these resources due to the barriers that may hinder their ability to navigate a website.
Making your website ADA-compliant could mean incorporating text readers for the blind or captions for the deaf. For those physically unable to navigate a website, a website may allow for voice control for easy access.
What Is the ADA Tax Credit?
The ADA tax credit is available for any small business that employs 30 employees or less or earns less than one million dollars in a given year. The tax credit allows small businesses to earn up to $5,000 back for purchases up to $10,250. Since the minimum amount you must spend to receive a tax credit is $250, your business must subtract this amount from the total costs and then divide it in half in order to calculate the credit amount.
For example, if your business has spent $3,500 on creating an ADA-compliant website, you would subtract $250 from this total amount spent to equal $3,250. Then, divide this amount in half for a total of $1,625. This final amount would be the amount your business would be eligible to receive back as a tax credit.
Benefits of ADA Tax Credit
Unlike a tax deduction, a tax credit will apply toward the end of the tax process. Once you have calculated the amount of money you owe for tax season, this tax credit would be subtracted from this amount.
When a business decides to make its website ADA-compliant, there will be costs associated. Tax benefits exist to incentivize small businesses to make these advancements, helping to provide greater accessibility to all disabled persons.
Every year your website meets ADA compliance guidelines, you are eligible to receive the ADA tax credit. This makes it easier for businesses to continue to update their website accessibility as regulations expand.
The Importance of ADA Compliance
Having an ADA-compliant website sets your website apart from all the websites that have not made the shift. In addition to providing inclusivity, an accessible website can also boost retail performance and protect your company from federal penalties.
Whether your website is brand new or has been in operation for several years, you are taking the risk of incurring major fees and other federal lawsuits against your company by not following ADA compliance guidelines.
By making your website ADA-compliant, you are not only helping your business grow stronger by allowing wider access to more clientele, but you are also assisting a large population of people who are often stripped of the privilege of being able to access the same online platforms as others.
Make Your Website ADA Compliant Today
Across the United States alone, there are 61 million individuals living with disability. You are expanding your marketing potential by opening up your website to these individuals. These users will be more likely to utilize your website knowing that they have accessibility to your platform as opposed to all the websites yet to become ADA compliant.
If you are still feeling unsure about how you can make your website ADA-compliant, the experts at Arca Interactive are here to help. Contact us today for website advice and other helpful tips.
