Blind Taxpayer
Categories: Tax, Ethics/Morals, Econ, Regulations
A blind taxpayer is someone who is literally blind, and the government wants to cut them a break on their taxes.
In 1943, there were many veterans who were coming home blind from World War II, and the government saw this as a way to thank them and the many blind people who worked in defense industries during the war.
Blindness is also easily provable with vision worse than 20/200, or a field of vision less than 20 degrees. The blind get the same standard deduction as taxpayers over age 65 to help pay for Seeing Eye dogs, taxis, special readers/books, and walking canes. However, in order to qualify, they have to use Form 1040 or 1040A, not 1040EZ, and must take the standard deduction rather than itemizing deductions. They also have to include a note from a doctor the first time they file and take the deduction.