WASHINGTON - National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson announced today that the Internal Revenue Service has awarded almost $8 million in matching grants to Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) for the 2007 grant cycle (Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 31, 2007).

LITCs are qualifying organizations that provide representation for free or a nominal fee to low-income taxpayers involved in tax disputes with the IRS or that provide education on taxpayer rights and responsibilities to taxpayers for whom English is a second language or who have limited English proficiency. For more details about languages other than English served by LITCs, see IRS Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List.

Under the LITC program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 a year to qualifying organizations. For the 2007 grant cycle, the IRS awarded LITC grants to 154 organizations representing 49 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

Currently there are no LITCs in the state of Colorado. The LITC Program Office will open a supplemental period for accepting LITC applications for the 2007 grant cycle for the state of Colorado. The supplemental application period will run from April 27 to May 25, 2007. LITC applications for this grant must be electronically submitted or postmarked by May 25, 2007. The 2007 Grant Application Package and Guidelines, IRS Publication 3319 (Rev. 5-2006), is available on the Taxpayer Advocate Web site.

Questions about the LITC Program can be addressed to the LITC Program Office at (202) 622-4711 (not a toll-free call) or by e-mail at LITCProgramOffice@irs.gov.