Bedford-Stuyvesant Community Legal Services Corporation Receives Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Grant

Bedford-Stuyvesant Community Legal Services Corporation has just received a helping hand for their work with local, low-income tax payers.

The IRS announced that the organization is among 12 recipients in the state to receive a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant, and will be receiving a $45,000 grant to help fund their services.

"If you have a problem with the IRS and you cannot afford professional tax assistance, or if you speak English as a second language and need help understanding your taxpayers rights and responsibilities, you may be eligible to seek assistance at an LITC," said Dianne Besunder at IRS Media Relations.

Besunder said that LITC's ensure the fairness and integrity of the tax system by educating low income tax payers about their rights and responsibilities, and providing pro bono representation to taxpayers in tax disputes with the IRS, among other areas.

For the 2011 grant cycle, 165 organizations across the country received LITC grants. Through the program, the IRS awards matching grants of up to $100,000 a year to qualifying organizations.

Questions about the LITC Program can be addressed to the LITC Program Office by e-mail at litcprogramoffice@irs.gov, or by phone at (202) 622-4711.