Diana Ramos v Department of Treasury, IRS
Lawsuit Filed Against the IRS by Hartford Residents
A class action lawsuit has been filed in the District Court of Connecticut against the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for violations of the Civil Rights Act. Class members seek an injunction of new IRS practices of requiring certification for earned income tax credits that benefit lower income residents.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that in October of 2004, the IRS determined that is would require persons in Hartford County, including residents of the City of Hartford, to certify that they are eligible to receive an earned income tax credit (EITC), which had not been required in the past and is part of a new IRS certification program for 2005.
More specifically, the complaint alleges that most of the lower income residents of Hartford are African American and Latino single mothers and that such a requirement would not only be to their detriment, but also a violation of their civil rights. The certification process is described as burdensome and opponents believe that those who need the credit most might not complete the process to receive their credit.
