Don't Mess With Taxes

Life is tough for lots of people. Unfortunately, that’s true even during, or because of, the holiday season.

But caring people still exist. They donate dollars and, more importantly in many cases, their time to help those in need.

That’s true in the tax world, too.

It’s no secret that Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs provide free help to many who need personal assistance, but can’t afford to pay a tax professional, to fill out and file their annual returns.

Then there are those who offer similar free aid to those who find themselves in tax trouble after they’ve submitted their 1040s to the Internal Revenue Service.

These helpful individuals serve at Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs).

Taxpayer Advocate offering: The LITC Program is supported by grants provided by the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS).

Many of LITC participants are attorneys, certified public accountants, and enrolled agents who volunteer their valuable time to help those who, like VITA and TCE clients, don’t have the resources to pay for professional help.

But those taxpayers definitely need expert assistance to solve the tax situations in which they find themselves.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the LITC grant program. This milestone was noted earlier this month by National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) Erin Collins in a NTA Blog post.

“Since 1999, LITCs have been changing lives, leveling the playing field, and standing up for low-income and English as a second language (ESL) taxpayers across the nation. Imagine facing a tax audit, tax debt, or dispute without the resources to hire expert help. That’s intimidating to almost anyone, but especially to low-income individuals who can’t afford to get help. That’s where the LITC Program steps in to save the day!” wrote Collins.

That post — 25 Years of Making a Difference: Celebrate and Join the LITC Movement! — gets this weekend’s Saturday Shout Out honor.

Collins’ post provides a history of the program, a look at its goals, a review of its successes, and what she as NTA and the Taxpayer Advocate Service see in the future for the LITC Program’s future.

There’s also information on how you can get involved with the LITC Program

Finally, the post has links to the latest LITC Program Report, which details its activities and accomplishments, as well as one to help you find the LITC locations throughout the United States.

You also might find these items of interest:

• IRS seeks VITA and TCE volunteers for 2025 tax season
• When the Taxpayer Advocate Service can, and can't, help
• Special clinics help low-income taxpayers resolve IRS issues

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