Wednesday, February 26, 2020

IR-2020-43: Low income taxpayer clinics represented 19,513 taxpayers dealing with an IRS tax controversy; see the latest program report and the 2020 LITC grant recipient list

Bookmark and Share

IRS.gov Banner
IRS Newswire February 26, 2020

News Essentials

What's Hot

News Releases

IRS - The Basics

IRS Guidance

Media Contacts

Facts & Figures

Around The Nation

e-News Subscriptions


The Newsroom Topics

Multimedia Center

Noticias en Español

Radio PSAs

Tax Scams

The Tax Gap

Fact Sheets

IRS Tax Tips

Armed Forces

Latest News Home


IRS Resources

Compliance & Enforcement

Contact My Local Office

Filing Options

Forms & Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

News

Taxpayer Advocate

Where to File

IRS Social Media


Issue Number:    IR-2020-43

Inside This Issue


Low income taxpayer clinics represented 19,513 taxpayers dealing with an IRS tax controversy; see the latest program report and the 2020 LITC grant recipient list

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) Program Office has issued its annual program report. The report describes how LITCs provide representation, education, and advocacy for taxpayers who are low income or speak English as a second language (ESL).

The LITC Program is a federal grant program administered by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, led by the Acting National Taxpayer Advocate, Bridget Roberts.  LITCs represent individuals whose incomes are below a certain level and need to resolve tax problems with the IRS, such as audits, appeals, and tax collection disputes. They can represent taxpayers in court as well as within the IRS. They also can provide information about taxpayer rights and responsibilities in different languages for ESL taxpayers. LITCs provide services for free or a small fee. They receive IRS grants but work independently to assist and advocate for taxpayers.

During 2018, LITCs represented 19,513 taxpayers dealing with an IRS tax controversy. They helped taxpayers secure more than $4.7 million in tax refunds and reduced taxpayers' liabilities by nearly $124 million. They also brought more than 4,200 taxpayers back into payment compliance.

Through outreach and education activities, LITCs strived to ensure individuals understood their rights as U.S. taxpayers by conducting more than 1,700 educational activities that were attended by over 16,600 persons. More than 1,800 volunteers contributed to the success of LITCs by contributing nearly 57,000 hours of their time. More than two-thirds of the volunteers were attorneys, certified public accountants, or enrolled agents.

LITCs used a variety of approaches to successfully advocate for taxpayers. These included utilizing collection alternatives to resolve issues administratively within the IRS litigating cases in the United States Tax Court and other federal courts, and elevating systemic issues through the Taxpayer Advocate Service's Systemic Advocacy Management System. Below is just one example of how an LITC assisted taxpayers in need:

The taxpayers were a senior couple with no children. The husband had served in the military and was disabled during combat operations. He had a construction business, and together he and his wife invested large amounts of time and money into renovating their home into a bed and breakfast. After years of financial setbacks, the couple lost their home and long-time business, and incurred a large outstanding federal tax debt. The taxpayers filed for bankruptcy protection.

At that time, they were living on a fixed income of Social Security and a small Veterans Administration pension in a subsidized senior apartment that they were told they could not live in if they had more than $10,000 in tax debt. The couple came to an LITC after they began receiving certified mail notices from the IRS about the federal tax debt. The LITC called the IRS to request a 60-day hold on collection while the taxpayers gathered documents for an Offer-In-Compromise (OIC). The couple then received a notice of intent to levy their Social Security benefits, and the LITC requested a Collection Due Process hearing, where it helped the couple settle its entire federal tax debt with an OIC for $1. The taxpayers returned a customer satisfaction survey to the LITC and acknowledged the work of the staff attorney by saying, "Wonderful you have such a smart, kind, and caring man on your staff. Thank you so much for everything."

The full report contains extensive details about the LITC Program and more extraordinary stories about the representation that LITCs provide. It also details the results that LITCs achieved on behalf of their clients.

2020 Grant Recipient List
Through the LITC Program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 per year to qualifying organizations. The Internal Revenue Service today announced $11.6 million in matching grants to 131 recipients across the country for development, expansion or continuation of LITCs for the 2020 grant year. IRS Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List (PDF), provides information about LITCs by geographic area, including contact information and details about the languages, in addition to English, in which each LITC offers services. Publication 4134 is available at IRS.gov.

The grant year began on Jan. 1 and ends on Dec. 31. The following is a list of the 131 organizations awarded a grant for the 2020 grant year:

2020 LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINICS 

Name of Organization

City

State

Award Amount

Alaska Business Development Center LITC

Anchorage

AK

$76,000

Legal Services Alabama LITC

Montgomery

AL

$100,000

UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law LITC

Little Rock

AR

$100,000

Legal Aid of Arkansas LITC

Springdale

AR

$64,000

Community Legal Services LITC

Phoenix

AZ

$95,000

Southern Arizona Tax Clinic

Tucson

AZ

$85,919

Bet Tzedek Legal Services Tax Clinic

Los Angeles

CA

$100,000

KYCC Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Los Angeles

CA

$100,000

Pepperdine LITC

Los Angeles

CA

$85,000

Bookstein Low Income Tax Clinic

Los Angeles

CA

$95,000

Chapman University Tax Law Clinic

Orange

CA

$100,000

Inland Counties Legal Services LITC

Riverside

CA

$90,000

Legal Aid Society of San Diego LITC

San Diego

CA

$100,000

University of San Diego LITC

San Diego

CA

$100,000

Chinese Newcomers Service Center

San Francisco

CA

$97,966

Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco

San Francisco

CA

$100,000

UC Hastings Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic

San Francisco

CA

$90,000

Cal Poly Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

San Luis Obispo

CA

$100,000

Community Legal Aid So Cal LITC

Santa Ana

CA

$60,000

Colorado Legal Services LITC

Denver

CO

$57,955

Denver Asset Building Coalition LITC

Denver

CO

$50,000

University of Denver LITC

Denver

CO

$100,000

Quinnipiac University School of Law LITC

Hamden

CT

$100,000

UConn Law School Tax Clinic

Hartford

CT

$95,000

The Catholic University of America LITC

Washington

DC

$100,000

The Janet R. Spragens Federal Tax Clinic

Washington

DC

$100,000

Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council LITC

Wilmington

DE

$100,000

Florida Rural Legal Services Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Ft. Meyers

FL

$85,000

Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc.

Gainesville

FL

$65,000

Legal Services of Greater Miami Community Tax Clinic

Miami

FL

$100,000

Bay Area Legal Services, Inc. LITC

Plant City

FL

$90,000

Legal Aid Services of Broward and Collier Counties

Plantation

FL

$100,000

Gulfcoast Legal Services LITC

St. Petersburg

FL

$100,000

Legal Services of North Florida

Tallahassee

FL

$100,000

Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County LITC

West Palm Beach

FL

$90,000

The Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic

Atlanta

GA

$100,000

JCvision and Associates, Inc.

Hinesville

GA

$75,800

North Georgia Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Lawrenceville

GA

$65,000

Iowa Legal Aid LITC

Des Moines

IA

$100,000

University of Idaho College of Law LITC

Boise

ID

$99,000

La Posada Tax Clinic

Twin Falls

ID

$100,000

Ladder Up Tax Clinic

Chicago

IL

$100,000

Loyola Federal Income Tax Clinic

Chicago

IL

$100,000

Administer Justice

Elgin

IL

$100,000

Prairie State Legal Services LITC

Wheaton

IL

$100,000

Indiana Legal Services LITC

Bloomington

IN

$100,000

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic

Indianapolis

IN

$100,000

Notre Dame Tax Clinic

South Bend

IN

$95,000

Kansas Legal Services, Inc. LITC

Kansas City

KS

$49,000

The Center for Great Neighborhoods LITC

Covington

KY

$100,000

Legal Aid Society Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Louisville

KY

$62,800

AppalRed Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Richmond

KY

$90,000

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services LITC

New Orleans

LA

$100,000

Greater Boston Legal Services

Boston

MA

$95,000

Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School LITC

Jamaica Plain

MA

$100,000

Springfield Partners for Community Action LITC

Springfield

MA

$50,000

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service LITC

Baltimore

MD

$100,000

University of Baltimore LITC

Baltimore

MD

$100,000

University of Maryland Carey School of Law LITC

Baltimore

MD

$74,000

Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc. LITC

Bangor

ME

$100,000

University of Michigan LITC

Ann Arbor

MI

$95,000

Accounting Aid Society

Detroit

MI

$100,000

Alvin L. Storrs Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

East Lansing

MI

$100,000

West Michigan Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Grand Rapids

MI

$84,000

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Tax Law Project

Minneapolis

MN

$88,000

University of Minnesota LITC

Minneapolis

MN

$100,000

Kansas City Tax Clinic

Kansas City

MO

$76,000 

Legal Aid of Western Missouri LITC

Kansas City

MO

$100,000

Washington University School of Law LITC

St. Louis

MO

$96,000

Mississippi Taxpayer Assistance Project

Oxford

MS

$81,500

Montana Legal Services Association LITC

Helena

MT

$26,000

North Carolina Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Charlotte

NC

$100,000

NC Central University School of Law LITC

Durham

NC

$100,000

Legal Aid of Nebraska LITC

Lincoln

NE

$50,625

NH Pro Bono Low-Income Taxpayer Project

Concord

NH

$85,000

South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. LITC

Camden

NJ

$70,000

Legal Services of New Jersey Tax Legal Assistance Project

Edison

NJ

$100,000

Northeast New Jersey Legal Services LITC

Jersey City

NJ

$100,000

Rutgers Federal Tax Clinic

Newark

NJ

$95,000

NMLA Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Albuquerque

NM

$100,000

Four Corners Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Farmington

NM

$94,000

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York LITC

Albany

NY

$90,000

Bronx Legal Services

Bronx

NY

$80,000

Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A LITC

Brooklyn

NY

$95,000

Brooklyn Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic

Brooklyn

NY

$100,000

Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project LITC

Buffalo

NY

$90,000

Hofstra Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Hempstead

NY

$21,000

Queens Legal Services LITC

Jamaica

NY

$90,000

Fordham Law School

New York

NY

$95,000

Mobilization for Justice

New York

NY

$80,000

The Legal Aid Society LITC

New York

NY

$100,000

Migration Resources Center LITC

Staten Island

NY

$50,000

Syracuse University College of Law LITC

Syracuse

NY

$100,000

Community Legal Aid Services LITC

Akron

OH

$80,000

Legal Aid of Greater Cincinnati LITC

CINCINNATI

OH

$85,000

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland LITC

Cleveland

OH

$95,000

Southeastern Ohio Legal Services for the public

Columbus

OH

$90,000

The Legal Aid Society of Columbus LITC

Columbus

OH

$100,000

Legal Aid of Western Ohio LITC

Toledo

OH

$65,000

Toledo Tax Controversy Clinic LITC

Toledo

OH

$41,351

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma LITC

Oklahoma City

OK

$63,000

El Programa Hispano Catolico's LITC

Gresham

OR

$90,000

Legal Aid Services of Oregon LITC

Portland

OR

$90,000

Lewis & Clark Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Portland

OR

$100,000

Philadelphia Legal Assistance LITC

Philadelphia

PA

$100,000

University of Pittsburgh School of Law LITC

Pittsburgh

PA

$85,000

Villanova Federal Tax Clinic

Villanova

PA

$100,000

Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services LITC

Washington

PA

$60,000

MidPenn Legal Services Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

York

PA

$70,000

Rhode Island Legal Services LITC

Providence

RI

$100,000

South Carolina Legal Services LITC

Greenville

SC

$95,000

University of South Dakota School of Law Federal tax Clinic

Vermillion

SD

$90,000

Memphis Area Legal Services

Memphis

TN

$100,000

Tennessee Taxpayer Project

Oak Ridge

TN

$100,000

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas LITC

Fort Worth

TX

$100,000

Texas A&M University School of Law Tax Clinic

Fort Worth

TX

$85,000

Houston Volunteer Lawyers LITC

Houston

TX

$85,000

Lone Star Legal Aid

Houston

TX

$100,000

South Texas College of Law LITC

Houston

TX

$99,957

Texas Tech School of Law LITC

Lubbock

TX

$100,000

Texas Taxpayer Assistance Project

San Antonio

TX

$100,000

Centro Hispano LITC

Provo

UT

$100,000

Legal Services of Northern Virginia LITC

Fairfax

VA

$100,000

Washington and Lee University School of Law Tax Clinic

Lexington

VA

$80,000

The Community Tax Law Project

Richmond

VA

$100,000

Vermont Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Burlington

VT

$75,000

University of Washington Federal Tax Clinic

Seattle

WA

$100,000

Gonzaga University Federal Tax Clinic

Spokane

WA

$95,000

Legal Action of Wisconsin LITC

Milwaukee

WI

$100,000

The Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Inc.

Milwaukee

WI

$75,361

Northwoods Tax Project

Wausau

WI

$84,000

 

Back to Top


FaceBook Logo  YouTube Logo  Instagram Logo  Twitter Logo  LinkedIn Logo


Thank you for subscribing to the IRS Newswire, an IRS e-mail service.

If you know someone who might want to subscribe to this mailing list, please forward this message to them so they can subscribe.

This message was distributed automatically from the mailing list IRS Newswire. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.


This email was sent to business.solutions.ve@gmail.com by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Internal Revenue Service · 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. · Washington DC 20535 GovDelivery logo

No comments:

Post a Comment