French Visual Impairment Groups Sue State Over Inaccessible Tax Website

A coalition of French associations representing visually impaired individuals is taking legal action against the state, asserting that the official tax website, impots.gouv.fr, fails to meet basic digital accessibility standards.

The Collectif français du handicap visuel (CFHV), comprising around twenty associations, has filed a complaint with the administrative court. They argue that the government is not upholding its legal obligations to make online services accessible, a requirement mandated by law since 2005. Pierre-Marie Micheli, vice-president of the CFHV, expressed frustration, noting that despite President Macron's 2023 pledge to make 250 online government sites accessible by the end of 2025, only a small fraction have complied.

Micheli also highlighted that the regulatory authority, Arcom, has issued only a non-binding warning regarding the issue. "Our action aims solely to push for change so that the state finally takes these matters seriously," he stated. The collective emphasizes that beyond the legal implications, the website's inaccessibility has tangible consequences for visually impaired citizens.

Hichem, a visually impaired member of the association Point de vue sur la ville, shared his personal struggle, explaining that he relies on his sister to help him file his taxes. "It's never pleasant; doing your taxes is something sensitive, very personal. I ask my sister, but I would like to be able to do it myself," he confided. In France, an estimated 12 million people are affected by digital accessibility issues, with two million being blind or visually impaired. The deadline for taxpayers in certain departments to file their returns is approaching on June 4th.