WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service awarded nearly $10 million in matching grants to Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) for the 2014 grant year (Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2014).

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

Through the LITC program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 per year to qualifying organizations. The LITC program is a federal program administered by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, led by National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. However, LITCs, their employees, and volunteers operate independently of the federal government.

More information about LITCs and the work they do to represent, educate, and advocate on behalf of low income taxpayers is available in IRS Publication 5066, the LITC Program Report. IRS Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List, provides information about LITCs by geographic area, including contact information and details about the languages each LITC can accommodate in addition to English. Publication 4134 and Publication 5066 are available at IRS.gov.

A list of the 133 organizations receiving LITC grants for the 2014 grant year is also available on IRS.gov.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced it is accepting applications for the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC). Applications will be accepted through June 13, 2014.

IRSAC’s purpose is to provide an organized public forum for IRS officials and representatives of the public to discuss relevant federal tax administration issues. IRSAC members submit a report to the IRS Commissioner annually at a public meeting in the fall.

IRSAC is comprised of up to 35 members, who are appointed to three-year terms by the Commissioner. Applications are currently being accepted for approximately seven appointments that will begin in January 2015.

Nominations of qualified individuals may come from individuals or organizations. IRSAC members are drawn from substantially diverse backgrounds. Membership is balanced to include representation from the tax professional community, including but not limited to: tax attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, academia and the business community. Federally registered lobbyists cannot be members of IRSAC. 

Nominations should describe and document the proposed member’s qualification for IRSAC membership, including the applicant’s knowledge of Circular 230 regulations and the applicant’s past or current affiliations, as well as dealings with the particular tax segment or segments of the community that the applicant wishes to represent on the council.

More information, including application forms, is available on the Tax Professionals page on IRS.gov. Questions about the application process can be sent to the following e-mail address: publicliaison@irs.gov.