Two local groups win IRS taxpayer-clinic grants

PROVIDENCE – The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has awarded nearly $9 million in matching funds to 154 organizations nationwide, including two in Rhode Island, to present low-income taxpayer clinics (LITCs).
Rhode Island Legal Services Inc. and Rhode Island Tax Clinic Inc., both of Providence, have received IRS matching grants to help them operate taxpayer clinics this year, according to National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson.
LITCs are independent organizations that represent low-income taxpayers in federal tax controversies, either free or for a nominal charge. Or they may provide tax education and outreach to taxpayers for whom English is a second language.
The local taxpayer clinics provide both controversy assistance and ESL services. Both local taxpayer clinics offer services in Spanish as well as English, according to their listings on the IRS site; Rhode Island Legal Services also offers assistance in Portuguese.
Qualifying organizations may receive matching grants of up to $100,000 per year from the IRS.
Additional taxpayer information – including a full list of LITCs nationwide, with the languages they serve and their contact details – is available from the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov.