The Community Tax Law Project (CTLP) provides free legal help to Virginia’s low wage families and individuals experiencing economic harm because of a tax problem. Our services directly strengthen the financial stability of working families and ensure that all Virginians receive fair and equal treatment in tax disputes. CTLP also operates a program providing free start-up legal services to Richmond area nonprofit organizations.
“Overwhelmed with responsibility and exhausted from the continuous medical care necessary to provide home care for a disabled veteran, I solicited your help. Your patience and compassion, along with an ability to communi-cate efficiently and effectively, gave me the peace of mind and professional support I needed to focus on this particular issue so that my patient’s modest income was not jeopardized by an IRS Levy.”
R.G.
Richmond, VA
Free Tax Help for Qualifying Taxpayers
Free tax preparation and filing options are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers during the filing season.
Taxpayers may go to the IRS website and key in their zip code to find free VITA and TCE tax preparation sites in their geographic area.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide also offers free tax preparation to financially qualifying taxpayers, especially to those 60 and older. Taxpayers may search for tax preparation sites by going to AARP’s website.
Free-file options are available for taxpayers who wish to prepare their own returns. Both the IRS website and the Virginia Department of Taxation website have resources to self-prepare and file returns electronically for free.
Work of Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) Highlighted
The LITC Program Report provides an overview and history of the LITC program, describes the work of clinics nationwide on behalf of low income taxpayers, and explains how this work helps to ensure the fairness and integrity of the tax system. Read about CTLP on page 5 in the history section of the report.
National Taxpayer Advocate Releases Report
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson’s 2014 Annual Report to Congress analyzes the most serious problems facing taxpayers, recommends tax law changes to Congress, and presents research studies into issues affecting taxpayers. This year’s report places an emphasis on the IRS erosion in services to taxpayers due to budget cuts.
Volume two of the report includes a research study that was developed with the goal of learning more about taxpayers who were eligible for help from low income taxpayer clinics (LITCs), like CTLP’s clinic.
Please Join Us in Honoring our 2014 Volunteers
CTLP has long recognized that the backbone of our program to protect the rights of Virginia’s low- and moderate-income taxpayers is the strong and continuous support we receive from the tax professionals – attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents – who comprise our Pro Bono Panel. Their generosity enables us to provide assistance to more than 1,000 taxpayers annually. The following tax professionals, advisors, law student interns, and administrative volunteers who have assisted CTLP clients during the past year are representative of the commitment and generosity shared by all of CTLP’s volunteers.
Know Your Rights as a Taxpayer
Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. Explore your rights and the IRS’s obligations to protect them.
