MONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION
304 North Higgins Avenue
Missoula, MT 59802
(406)543-8343
1-800-666-6899
FAX (406)543-8314

I am writing to inform you of the exciting new service Montana Legal Services is now able to offer. The MLSA Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (MLSA LITC), funded in part by a grant from the IRS, gives low income taxpayers free legal assistance on federal tax matters year round. Referrals to the Clinic will be made after clients are screened for financial eligibility and their cases for merit. The Clinic is not authorized to do tax returns, and will not accept cases with more than $50,000 in dispute. Cases that require more than just advice are currently being referred out by the Clinic to western Montana LITC pro-bono-attorneys and accountants. These attorneys and accountants currently have three options for volunteering: direct representation of clients with controversies in Tax Court, assistance to clients in case settlement, and/or presenting informational workshops on related tax matters. Typical cases MLSA LITC will handle are:

• Innocent Spouse Defense,
• Injured Spouse Claims,
• Earned Income Credit,
• Offers in Compromise (where tax is due but client cannot afford to pay full amount), and
• Dispute over tax due.

Please help to make the Clinic a success by referring cases in which there are federal tax issues to the LITC. For more information or to refer a case contact Diana Garrett in the Missoula office at extension 201.

Funded, in part, by grants from the Montana Justice Foundation, the Department of Justice VAWA office, and the Legal Services Corporation.