Block addresses civil union glitch

H&R; Block Inc. is offering to reimburse part of the cost some couples in civil unions encountered when the company’s online tax filing system refused to submit their returns.

The company is offering couples who can show documentation that they started online but had to complete the process at one of H&R; Block’s offices either a $100 coupon toward having their tax returns prepared or a free copy of H&R; Block’s TaxCut software.

The American Civil Liberties Union raised the issue in March on behalf of a Hartford, Conn., couple, Jason Smith and Settimio Pisu, who tried to file their joint state tax return as a civil union in January. The online network told them that the company’s software didn’t support tax returns from civil unions in Connecticut and recommended they complete their return at an H&R; Block office.

ACLU attorneys said that was discriminatory because it was more time-consuming and the couple had to pay an extra $155 to file their taxes that way.

H&R; Block spokeswoman Denise Sposato said the problem involved difficulties in meshing rules in the various states that allow civil unions with the federal tax system, which doesn’t recognize civil unions. The company has developed a technical workaround, she said.

Customers can find more details by visiting taxcut.com/tax_tips/aclu.html.