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> Design to be inclusive, and everyone benefits. Note that this is not always true. For example the tax instructions in the US are designed to be able to be fo

> Design to be inclusive, and everyone benefits. Note that this is not always true. For example the tax instructions in the US are designed to be able to be followed by anyone (add line 3 to line 4. Subtract line 1 from line 5. Multiply line 6 by 2. etc.), but the result is that things like piecewise linear functions that anyone comfortable with basic arithmetic and algebra would understand at a glance become a completely incomprehensible 25 step worksheet that's basically an assembly program for humans to follow. So keep in mind that things like algebra and equations don't just exist to torture people. They actually make it easier to understand and explain a lot of concepts.

progman32 4y ago
Do you have more information about the accessibility design goals of tax forms? First I hear about the subject.
- ndriscoll 4y ago
  I don't. It was more an inference on my part based on what the instructions are. I've come across some regulatory body advising companies to keep their disclosures to (if I can remember) around a 5th grade reading level, but I can't seem to find that now.
  - TheNewsIsHere 4y ago
    This is one of the stated goals of FACTA disclosures. Part of the legislation is that those disclosures must adhere to a certain degree of readability. (I don’t have direct citations off hand; I’m relying on memory from case studies and formalized education I’ve received in that area in the past few years.)
lozenge 4y ago
The goal of the tax form isn't to help you understand how to minimise your taxes, though? That would be better to put in a separate document.
- ndriscoll 4y ago
  I'm talking purely about calculating what's owed. The steps are, to me, pretty obfuscated, but I can see how they'd be easier for someone who's afraid of equations. It's annoying because for people who aren't innumerate, it's hard to have any number sense/ability to check for errors because there's so many steps, and it's hard to see what you're actually calculating even when you know what the human-readable logic is supposed to be. Like I said the best analogy I have is that it's like the instructions are written in assembly.
- astrange 4y ago
  Many people in the US believe making more money will actually cause them to make less money because they "move to a higher tax bracket". It would probably help if the tax form didn't make them think that. (This is often actually true for poor/disabled people due to welfare cliffs though…)

progman32 4y ago

Do you have more information about the accessibility design goals of tax forms? First I hear about the subject.

ndriscoll 4y ago
I don't. It was more an inference on my part based on what the instructions are. I've come across some regulatory body advising companies to keep their disclosures to (if I can remember) around a 5th grade reading level, but I can't seem to find that now.
- TheNewsIsHere 4y ago
  This is one of the stated goals of FACTA disclosures. Part of the legislation is that those disclosures must adhere to a certain degree of readability. (I don’t have direct citations off hand; I’m relying on memory from case studies and formalized education I’ve received in that area in the past few years.)

lozenge 4y ago

The goal of the tax form isn't to help you understand how to minimise your taxes, though? That would be better to put in a separate document.

ndriscoll 4y ago
I'm talking purely about calculating what's owed. The steps are, to me, pretty obfuscated, but I can see how they'd be easier for someone who's afraid of equations. It's annoying because for people who aren't innumerate, it's hard to have any number sense/ability to check for errors because there's so many steps, and it's hard to see what you're actually calculating even when you know what the human-readable logic is supposed to be. Like I said the best analogy I have is that it's like the instructions are written in assembly.
astrange 4y ago
Many people in the US believe making more money will actually cause them to make less money because they "move to a higher tax bracket". It would probably help if the tax form didn't make them think that. (This is often actually true for poor/disabled people due to welfare cliffs though…)