IRS Awards Approximately $7.5 Million to
Tax Clinics Aiding Low Income Taxpayers

WASHINGTON - The National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina E. Olson, announced that the Internal Revenue Service has awarded approximately $7.5 million in matching grants to Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) for the 2005 grant cycle (Jan. 1, 2005, through Dec. 31, 2005). LITCs are qualifying organizations that represent low income taxpayers involved in tax disputes with the IRS or that provide education on tax rights and responsibilities to taxpayers for whom English is a second language or who have limited English proficiency.

The LITC grant program, now in its seventh year, encourages the creation and growth of Low Income Taxpayer Clinics across the nation. These clinics provide an important resource to taxpayers who may not be able to afford a tax professional.

Under the program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 a year to organizations operating independent tax clinics. For the 2005 grant cycle, the IRS awarded LITC grants to 145 organizations representing 48 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. With the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005, which provides for the appropriation of $8 million to the IRS for the use in awarding LITC grants, the IRS is planning a supplemental grant announcement. The additional $.5 million in grant funds will be directed to states that do not presently have a tax clinic and to communities where there is limited clinic accessibility.

The following link goes to the list of organizations awarded a matching grant for the 2005 grant cycle:

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