The agency this year has awarded $6 million for legal assistance to low-income taxpayer clinics through the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic grant program, compared to $5 million awarded last year.

The LITC program, now in its third year, is designed to help organizations provide low-cost legal assistance to taxpayers to resolve tax disputes, the IRS said. Organizations operating independent taxpayer clinics can qualify to receive up to $100,000 in matching funds through the program.

This year, 102 organizations will receive funding under the program, a 24 percent increase in the number of organizations funded last year. This year's LITC recipients represent non-profit organizations and accredited academic institutions from 38 states and the District of Columbia. In its inaugural year, the LITC program awarded nearly $1.5 million in grants for fiscal year 1999.

For FY 2001, 141 organizations submitted applications for LITC grants, compared to 88 last year.

"The growth of interest in the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic program moves us one step closer to getting tax help to people at all income levels," said IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti.

-- SmartPros News Staff

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