IRS Accepting Applications for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Grants

The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the 2010 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant application process is now open.

“Low Income Taxpayer Clinics provide an incredibly important service to taxpayers who find themselves in need of assistance. These grants are a wise investment in ensuring that there is a safety net for those having trouble navigating the system,” said Doug Shulman, IRS Commissioner.

The LITC grant program is a federal program administered by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, led by National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. The LITC program serves individuals who have a problem with the IRS and whose income is below a certain level. LITCs also provide outreach and education to taxpayers who speak English as a second language. LITCs are independent from the IRS. Most LITCs can provide representation before the IRS or in court on audits, tax collection disputes and other issues for free or for a small fee. Many clinics provide multilingual information about taxpayer rights and responsibilities.

Under the LITC grant program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 per year to qualifying organizations to develop, expand or maintain low-income taxpayer clinics. The program is in its eleventh year and continues to expand. To date in 2009, the LITC Program Office has awarded LITC grants to 162 organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Examples of qualifying organizations include:
• Clinical programs at accredited law, business or accounting schools, whose students represent low income taxpayers in tax disputes with the IRS, and
• Organizations exempt from tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(a) that represent low-income taxpayers in tax disputes with the IRS or refer those taxpayers to qualified representatives.

The application period for these grants will run through July 7, 2009. The grant will cover the 2010 grant cycle, from Jan. 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2010. Applications must be electronically filed, postmarked, sent by private delivery service, or hand delivered to the LITC Program Office in Washington, D.C. by July 7, 2009.

Copies of the 2010 Grant Application Package and Guidelines, IRS Publication 3319 (Rev. 5-2009), are available at www.irs.gov/advocate. Applicants may also order application packages from the IRS Distribution Center by calling 1-800-829-3676. Applicants can also file electronically at www.grants.gov. Those applying electronically should use the Funding Number TREAS-GRANTS-052010-001.

Questions about the LITC Program or grant application process 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.
For more information about the clinics receiving funding in 2009, see Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List. This publication is available at www.irs.gov, by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM, or at your local IRS office.

Lucky Cat Tells His Tale

(As it appeared in the April 3rd edition of the News & Press)
To All the People in Darlington, Hello—
My name is Lucky. I am a very fortunate cat because someone saved my life. You see, my owner died and left me with my 51 friends in our home. A nice man, a friend of our owner, inherited the home we lived in and also inherited 52 cats. My friends and I had food and water but we also had fleas and illness. It was an overwhelming task to care for us.
I became very sick and anorexic. I really wanted to live, but most of my strength was gone. Somehow, I crawled from my home and made it to my neighbor’s house. I could barely “meow” or hold my head up. Two ladies picked me up and one lady drove me to an emergency clinic in Lugoff, SC. Much of my blood was gone from fleas and my veins were hard. The nice lady brought me home to Florence. No one thought I could live.
A very nice man, Dr. Chuck Hewitt at Westside Veterinary Clinic, did everything he could to save me. My name is “Lucky,” and with prayers and Dr. Hewitt’s help, I am alive and well! They tell me I am the strong one because I alerted some friends and neighbors that help was needed in our home for my 51 “friends.”
These ladies came in with flea medicine, shots, antibiotics, and started with my buddies. They cleaned litter boxes and washed our water bowls. They even had time to sit on the floor with us and rub our heads. You see, we needed medicine and we needed love because we were sick and frightened.
It’s been almost ten months since I made that trip to Lugoff. Many things have happened. Several of my friends didn’t survive, but most of us did. We have had shots and been neutered and spayed. Some have been adopted (free) to good, loving homes. We have been loved and taken care of by my lady friends. The ladies feel that God surely had His hand in our ten-month journey.
Friendships became deeper and some things became important in life while other things didn’t seem important at all anymore.
I have just a few very special cat friends left at the home. The house is for sale, and my special friends need to be adopted to very loving homes. Some of us are still a bit skittish, but we are willing to try to be good kitties if someone will love us and give us a good home. We would be so grateful.
My name is Lucky, and God gave me a second chance at life.
Contact: 907-3225 or 393-6494