IRS now taking applications for low-income clinic grants

The application period for low-income taxpayer clinic grants for calendar 2019 runs now through June 27, the IRS announced.

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Internal Revenue Service federal building Washington DC USA

The IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 per year to qualifying organizations to develop, expand or maintain an LITC, which must provide services for free or for no more than a nominal fee. For 2018, the IRS awarded slightly more than $11.8 million in matching grants to 134 organizations.

The LITC is a federal grant program administered by the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate and led by the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson. The goal of LITCs is to ensure the fairness and integrity of the tax system for taxpayers with lower incomes or who speak English as a second language.

The clinics, and their employees and volunteers, operate independently from the IRS. Qualifying organizations have included clinical programs at accredited law, business or accounting schools, and 501(a) organizations.

The program’s goals for 2019 include obtaining coverage for Hawaii, North Dakota and Puerto Rico, and expanding coverage in areas not currently served by an LITC, such as mid-Florida, Northeast Arizona, Northern Pennsylvania, and Southeastern New York excluding New York City.

Requirements and application instructions are in Publication 3319.

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