Low Income Tax Clinics (LITC)
The Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. (CLSMF) Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) may be able to help you with your tax problems.
The program is designed to help low-income taxpayers with federal controversies under $50,000. Although this program does not assist with tax preparation for the current tax year, we can help with a number of other tax issues:
Earned Income Tax Credit
IRS Audits
Innocent Spouse Relief and Injured Spouse Relief claims
Deficiency Notices
Liens and Levies
Responding to letters from the IRS
Other Controversies with Federal Income Taxes
Many of the cases we handle can be resolved simply by filling out a form and making sure the math calculations are accurate. Others may be more complex, requiring a more substantial amount of time and effort. We never charge a fee for our services.
How to get help
You must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for this program:
Your tax issue must be a controversy. This means that you must have an issue involving past tax years. Your problem may be that the IRS notified you that you are being audited, your refund is being withheld by the IRS, or the IRS placed a lien on your property for owed taxes.
The back taxes owed or the amount the IRS is questioning cannot exceed $50,000 for any one tax year. In other words, if the IRS is questioning three years of returns, the amount of each year cannot be over $50,000 in taxes owed, or a total of $150,000 for the three-year period.
You must not have an annual income above the following amounts according to your family size:
1 $24,500
2 $33,000
3 $41,500
4 $50,000
5 $58,500
For each additional person, add $8,500
The Process
There is a simple eight-step process to receive FREE help with your tax issue:
Review the program criteria above to see if you qualify.
If you qualify, or if you're unsure whether or not you qualify, call Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. at 1-866-886-1799.
If you qualify, we will make an appointment with you to speak with a case handler. All appointments are confidential.
When you arrive for your appointment, bring all the papers you have related to your tax issue (copies of tax returns, letters from the IRS, etc.)
During your intake (initial) appointment, we will verify that you qualify for our program.
We will then take copies of your paperwork and have you sign paperwork necessary to take your case. After a few days, you will receive an acceptance letter from us.
Once you are accepted, we will find you a pro bono (volunteer) tax professional -- a tax attorney, CPA, or other tax professional -- to assist you in resolving your problem.
Contact your assigned tax professional as soon as you receive your letter.
This process can take a few weeks. Although we do our best to find a tax professional in your area, please be aware that you may need to travel to meet your assigned tax professional.
IRS Audits
An Internal Revenue Services (IRS) audit is an inquiry by the IRS performed by an IRS agent to determine whether a taxpayer rightfully filed their taxes. The IRS will notify the taxpayer that he or she is being audited and allow the taxpayer time to prepare for the audit.
Earned Income Tax Credits Audits
An Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) audit is an inquiry by the IRS to determine if a taxpayer rightfully claimed an EITC credit. EITC credit is available to individuals who worked during a tax year or were self-employed.
Innocent Spouse Relief and Injured Spouse Relief claims
This is relief available to a wife or husband who filed a Joint Return Tax with their partner, but believes that he or she is not responsible for the tax owed due to the fact that the spouse responsible for filing the couple's tax return filed an improper or fraudulent tax return.
Deficiency Notices
This is a notification by the IRS to the taxpayer stating the taxpayer owes more that the amount stated by the taxpayer in their tax return.
Liens
This is a situation whereby IRS has determined that a taxpayer owes a tax debt and places a legal claim upon the property of the taxpayer to secure the payment of tax debt.
Levies
This is actual tax collection by IRS of taxes that a taxpayer owes. IRS can do this by issuing levy to the taxpayer's bank to obtain the taxpayer's money in the taxpayer’s savings or checking account. IRS can also levy your taxpayer and Social Security Benefits. If you received an IRS letter/notification regarding any of the issues mentioned or issues you do not understand, give us a call and see if you qualify for our representation.
Tax Preparation
We do not help businesses with tax problems and we do not prepare tax returns. For more taxpayer information, contact your local United Way office to find a free tax preparer under the VITA program near you OR call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 OR go online to www.tax-toolkit.com
