AUGUSTA, MAINE -- National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson announced that the Internal Revenue Service has awarded almost $9.5 million in matching grants to Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) for the 2009 grant cycle.

LITCs are organizations that represent low income taxpayers in federal tax controversies with the IRS for free or for a nominal charge, provide tax education and outreach for taxpayers who speak English as a second language, or both.

Locally, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc., located in Bangor, Maine, received a grant to operate a clinic this year.

Through the LITC program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 a year to qualifying organizations. For the 2009 grant cycle –– Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2009 –– the IRS awarded grants to 162 organizations. LITCs, their employees and volunteers are independent of the federal government.

Questions about the LITC Program 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. IRS Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List, provides information on the LITCs in each geographic area and the languages each clinic serves in addition to English. It is available on the official IRS Web site, irs.gov, and at local IRS offices.

Peggy Riley
IRS Media Relations Specialist