The Internal Revenue Service has awarded over $9 million in matching grants to Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) for the 2012 grant cycle (Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2012).
The Quinnipiac University in Hamden received $85,000 and the University of Connecticut in Hartford was awarded $87, 857.
LITCs are organizations that represent low-income taxpayers in federal tax controversies with the IRS for free or for a nominal charge and/or provide tax education and outreach for taxpayers who speak English as a second language.
Through the LITC program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 a year to qualifying organizations. For the 2012 grant cycle, the IRS awarded LITC grants to 156 organizations.
The LITC grant program is a federal program administered by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, led by National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. LITCs and their employees and volunteers, however, operate independently of the federal government.
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. IRS Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List, provides information on LITCs in each geographic area and on the languages each clinic serves in addition to English. It is available at IRS.gov or at local IRS offices.
