IR-2024-49, Feb. 23, 2024 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) in Fact Sheet 2024-05 related to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides financial assistance for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination by the USDA in farm lending prior to 2021. As a result, USDA created the USDA Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (Program). To be eligible to participate in the Program, an individual must have experienced discrimination by USDA in USDA farm lending or be a debtor with assigned or assumed USDA farm lending debt that was the subject of USDA discrimination. The Program covers discrimination based on race, color, or national origin/ethnicity (including status as a member of an Indian tribe); sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity; religion; age; marital status; disability; or reprisal/retaliation for prior civil rights activity. More information about the Program may be found in the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. More information about reliance is available. IRS-FAQ
