IRS Accepting Grant Applications for
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics

WASHINGTON - The National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson, announced today that the 2004 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant application process is now open.

Organizations providing low cost or no cost representation to people involved in tax disputes can apply for grants worth up to $100,000 for 2004 grant cycle. Grants are also available for programs that inform taxpayers for whom English is a second language of their tax rights and responsibilities.

The National Taxpayer Advocate sees the funding of the low income taxpayer clinics and the provision of free or nominal fee tax representation as a significant step toward a more equitable tax system. The IRS matching grant program 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.

The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic grant program is entering into its sixth year and continues to expand. Under the program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 a year to organizations to develop, expand or continue low income taxpayer clinics. In 2003, the IRS awarded $7 million to 136 organizations representing 48 states and the District of Columbia.

The application period for the 2004 LITC grant program is from May 1 to July 1, 2003.

Applications for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic grants must be received at Internal Revenue Service, Taxpayer Advocate Service, Mail Stop 211-D, LITC Program Office, 401 West Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA. 30308, no later than July 1, 2003. The application package (Publication 3319) is available at www.irs.gov/advocate or may be ordered from the IRS Forms Distribution Center by calling 1-800-829-3676. Applicants can also file electronically at www.egrants.IRS.gov.

Each application will be considered, and the LITC Program Office will mail a notification letter to each applicant. The grants will be awarded by November 1, 2003, for the grant period beginning in January 2004.

Qualifying tax clinics may be run by either law, business or accounting schools whose students represent taxpayers in tax disputes with the IRS or Tax Court or by tax-exempt organizations. These organizations can represent taxpayers in tax-related matters, refer taxpayers to pro-bono qualified representatives and provide non-English-speaking taxpayers information about their tax rights and responsibilities.

Questions about the LITC Program or grant application process should be addressed to the LITC Program Office at 404-338-7185 or by email at LITCProgramOffice@irs.gov.

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