Although Legal Aid works® is a not-for-profit organization, we still have all the overhead and legal costs of a law firm and continue to provide disadvantaged people with legal expertise at the highest level. This presents an interesting challenge because additional funds are needed to cover basic office supplies – which represents a significant funding gap in our budget. We welcome all non-monetary in-kind donations that individuals and private businesses can provide to cover day-to-day operating costs. These donations help cover some of the operating costs, allowing us to further increase limited resources so that more people can benefit from our services. Pro bono and monetary donations are tax deductible under federal law. In addition, annual cash and in-kind donations such as pro bono services, office space, and donations of office equipment of $1,000 or more may entitle the donor to a 65% income tax credit on government taxes. Pro bono attorney representation is estimated at $125 per hour for Crown income tax credit purposes. Individual personal monetary donations between $500 and a maximum of $125,000 may also qualify for a 65% tax credit on an individual`s income tax. For more information on NAP tax credits, email Katerina Vollten, Director of Development, or call (540) 371-1105.
For information on the NAP`s pro bono tax credits, please email Carolyn Ross, Pro Bono Coordinator, or call (540) 371-1105. No, it is not. The Tax Desk offers free legal services to eligible persons. We primarily represent clients who live in the greater Boston area. When it comes to unique or particularly important legal issues, we will also review cases from outside our geographic area of primary service. Some of these brochures deal with cases that we take care of. Some deal with cases that we do not accept. We only take care of legal issues for which you cannot go to jail yourself. If you have a criminal case, you should call the Public Defender`s Office. To see the types of cases we accept, click HERE. We take as many cases as possible.
We are sorry that we do not have enough lawyers for everyone. What happens if we can`t handle your case? We may always be able to provide you with timely legal advice. Or tell them where you can get help. We also have brochures on this site. They can help you with your legal problem. Taxes can also be a way to get money back through tax credits and help you improve your financial situation. The Federal Tax Clinic is one of seven clinics that make up Harvard Law School`s legal services center. As part of its mission to help low-income individuals and families in the greater Boston area, the Federal Tax Clinic provides free legal advice, advice, and guidance to low-income clients who have tax issues with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (MADOR).
Client eligibility is based on case type and current income level. For detailed information on income eligibility, see the Frequently Asked Questions section below. Click on the image below to view or download the Tax Clinic brochure. IRS communications can be complex and intimidating. CILTs can help you respond to these requests or provide you with other legal assistance in tax disputes. Legal Aid Works® is a 501(C(3) nonprofit organization and is also certified to offer tax credits under the Virginia Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAP). Legal Aid Works® is registered as a non-profit organization under the Virginia Solicitation of Contributions Law. A financial report is available upon request from the State Department of Consumer Affairs of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. If you have a lower income, many LTCTs can provide legal representation for disputes with the IRS. Low-Income Tax Clinics (LICs) are programs in law schools, accounting schools, or legal aid offices that provide legal assistance and representation to low-income taxpayers who are in conflict with the IRS. Some LTCCs are non-profit organizations that offer municipal tax education programs to reach residents whose primary language is other than English.
These organizations may offer free tax preparation services as part of their program. The Working Income Tax Credit (“EITC”) is the largest in the United States. Welfare , with twenty-four million low-income Americans receiving $60 billion in payments in 2009. Through the EITC, U.S. workers with little or no tax liability can receive up to nearly $6,000 in recoverable tax credits each year. Over the past two decades, policymakers have increasingly favoured the EITC over social programs for direct transfers, pointing to its lower administrative costs (as recipients “self-certify” by filing taxes) and incentivizing recipients to work. Despite its political appeal, the EITC suffers from profound structural deficiencies. Largely because EITC applicants have little guidance for navigating the difficult filing process, they are subject to high rates of IRS audits and cancellation of benefits with penalties and interest. This increase in controversies related to the EITC has led to a huge need for legal assistance, but low-income tax law remains largely a peripheral issue within the legal aid community. In this article, we propose a comprehensive and achievable set of reforms that the IRS and legal advisory organizations can implement to improve the efficiency and fairness of the EITC. We begin by describing how the complexity of EITC eligibility criteria places a huge burden on low-income Americans, as they often lack guidance on tax returns and cannot afford legal representation in the event of a dispute with the IRS.
We then outline the steps the IRS should take to make the EITC more accessible and understandable for those who qualify for the loan, thereby reducing the likelihood of an audit and the loss of benefits. In particular, we are focusing on improving the tax reporting process, improving the manageability of EITC audits for beneficiaries, introducing fewer adversarial procedures for EITC-related tax procedures, and changing some organizational structures within the IRS. Finally, we suggest several practical ways for the legal aid community to improve its support for EITC recipients facing an IRS audit or a case before a tax court. More importantly, we argue that EITC support warrants greater congressional funding and higher strategic and budgetary priority within legal aid organizations, as the EITC is now far more important than the direct transfer welfare programs that legal aid lawyers have traditionally focused on. Does the IRS represent your tax refund? Do you owe money to the IRS? Having problems with the IRS? You could get FREE legal help from the Tennessee Taxpayer Project. What we do: Important information about eligibility for the income tax credit. Information about the request for sheltered accommodation in order to use the services or facilities of the state judicial system. In some cases, the IRS may deny your EITC application and limit your ability to claim the loan in future years. IRS communications often do not directly deny your refund request, but may require additional documentation. IRS denials of requests are not always accurate and are often overturned after the taxpayer submits additional information.
Each LTTC independently decides whether you meet income guidelines and other criteria before agreeing to represent you.