H.R. 1529: Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025

Introduced Feb 24, 202572 cosponsors

Sponsor

Mike Kelly

Republican · PA-16

Bill Progress

IntroducedFeb 24

Committee

Pass House

Pass Senate

Signed

Law

Latest Action · Feb 24, 2025

1/4

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Blind Americans need affordable access tech

3 min readLast updated May 16, 2026

Why it matters

Up to $2,000 in refundable tax relief could help cover screen readers, Braille displays, and other blindness-access tools. If you or your family member is blind, H.R. 1529 would let you claim that help even if you owe little or no federal income tax.

H.R. 1529 creates a new refundable federal tax credit for technology whose main purpose is making visually presented information usable for blind people. That includes eligible purchases for you, your spouse, or your dependent if that person meets the bill's definition of blindness.

The credit is capped at $2,000 per blind individual over any 3-year period. Because it is refundable, you could still receive the benefit even if your federal income tax bill is small or zero.

H.R. 1529 Bill Summary

What H.R. 1529 actually does.

Blindness-access technology gets a refundable tax credit

H.R. 1529 would create a refundable credit for eligible access technology purchases, so filers could receive the benefit even if they owe little or no federal income tax.

You could claim up to $2,000 over 3 years

The total credit is capped at $2,000 for each qualified blind individual during any 3-consecutive-taxable-year period.

Families could claim costs for a spouse or dependent

Eligible expenses can be claimed for the taxpayer, a spouse, or a dependent, as long as the person is a qualified blind individual under the bill.

Only tech built for blind access would qualify

The bill covers hardware, software, or other information technology whose primary function is converting or adapting visually presented information into formats blind individuals can use.

No credit for reimbursed or already-subsidized costs

You could not claim expenses that were reimbursed by insurance or already used for another federal tax deduction or credit.

The credit would rise with inflation, then expire

The $2,000 cap would be adjusted for inflation after 2026, rounded down to the nearest $100, but the credit would end for expenses paid in tax years beginning after 2030.

Who benefits from H.R. 1529?

Blind people buying access technology for everyday life

If you need specialized tools to read digital text, navigate websites, or use school and work platforms, H.R. 1529 could return up to $2,000 over a 3-year period.

Families paying for a blind child's technology

Parents and caregivers could claim eligible purchases for a blind dependent, which could help offset the cost of school and communication tools used at home or in class.

Married households covering a spouse's equipment

If your spouse is blind and you pay for qualifying access technology, the bill would let that household claim the credit instead of limiting it only to the user.

Lower-income filers who usually miss nonrefundable credits

Because the credit is refundable, people with little or no income tax liability could still receive the benefit as a refund.

Who is affected by H.R. 1529?

People whose access technology was paid by insurance or another source

Reimbursed costs would not count toward the credit, so only out-of-pocket eligible expenses could be claimed.

Filers trying to use the same purchase for two tax breaks

You would have to choose, because the same expense could not be used for this credit and another federal tax deduction or credit.

Blind taxpayers with tech costs above the cap

The bill helps with expenses, but it does not cover everything. Once a person hits the $2,000 limit over 3 years, additional eligible costs would not generate more credit during that window.

IRS refund processing and tax prep systems

The federal tax system would need to add a new refundable credit and process claims starting with 2026 tax years if the bill becomes law.

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On the Record

What Congress Is Saying

H.R. 1529 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.

This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.

HR1529 Legislative Journey

1 actions

House: Committee Action

Feb 24, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

About the Sponsor

Mike Kelly

Republican, Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district · 15 years in Congress

Committees: Ways and Means

View full profile →

Cosponsors (72)

This bill gained 8 cosponsors in the last 30 days

This bill has 72 cosponsors: 44 Democrats, 28 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 33 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, and 30 more.

44Democrats28Republicans·33 statesBipartisan

Mike Thompson

Democrat · CA

Pete Sessions

Republican · TX

Kathy Castor

Democrat · FL

David Valadao

Republican · CA

Jim Costa

Democrat · CA

Mike Bost

Republican · IL

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Democrat · FL

Linda Sánchez

Democrat · CA

Jimmy Panetta

Democrat · CA

Marc Veasey

Democrat · TX

Michael Guest

Republican · MS

W. Steube

Republican · FL

Committee Sponsors

Ways and Means Committee

19D26R

|14 signed31 not yet

14 of 45 committee members cosponsored

20 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents

H.R. 1529 Quick Facts

Cosponsors

72+8

+67 more

Committee: Ways and Means
Chamber: House
Policy: Taxation
Introduced: Feb 24, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Feb 24, 2025

Constituent Resources

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Official Sources

H.R. 1529 on Congress.gov

Official congressional bill page for the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025, with text, sponsors, actions, and status.

U.S. House Ways and Means Committee

The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, which handles federal tax legislation.

Internal Revenue Code on GovInfo

Official federal source for the U.S. Code, useful for the bill’s amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

26 U.S. Code § 63 on Legal Information Institute mirror reference point

Official House-hosted U.S. Code site relevant because the bill defines blindness by cross-reference to section 63(f)(4).

IRS Tax Credits and Deductions for Individuals

Official IRS overview page relevant to how a new refundable individual income tax credit would fit into existing tax administration.

IRS Publication 17

Official IRS taxpayer guide that helps explain how individual income tax rules and credits are typically administered.

CBO Cost Estimates

Official Congressional Budget Office page where any cost estimate for H.R. 1529 would appear if one is issued.

31 U.S. Code on GovInfo

Official source relevant because the bill amends 31 U.S.C. 1324(b)(2), which governs refund payments from permanent appropriations.

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H.R. 1529 Common Questions

How much is the tax credit in H.R. 1529?

Up to $2,000 per qualified blind individual over any 3-year period. The cap starts increasing with inflation after 2026.

Is the H.R. 1529 credit refundable?

Yes. If H.R. 1529 becomes law, eligible filers could receive the credit even if they owe little or no federal income tax.

Who can claim the blind access technology credit?

You could claim eligible costs for yourself, your spouse, or your dependent if that person is a qualified blind individual under the bill.

What technology would qualify under H.R. 1529?

The bill covers hardware, software, or other information technology mainly designed to convert or adapt visually presented information for blind users.

Can I claim the credit if insurance paid for the device?

No. H.R. 1529 excludes expenses that were reimbursed by insurance or compensated by another source.

Can I use the same purchase for this credit and another tax break?

No. The bill says the same expense cannot be used for this credit and another federal tax deduction or credit.

When would the H.R. 1529 tax credit start and end?

It would start with 2026 tax years and end for expenses paid in tax years beginning after 2030, unless Congress extends it later.

Based on H.R. 1529 bill text

H.R. 1529 Bill Text

“To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable tax credit against income tax for the purchase of qualified access technology for the blind.”

Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office