Prairie State's Low Income Tax Clinic receives $100,000 from IRS

Prairie State Legal Services received a $100,000 grant from the Internal Revenue Service's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Program to assist low-income clients with resolving their tax matters.

The program helps ensure the fairness and integrity of the tax system for low-income taxpayers by providing representation on their behalf in tax disputes with the IRS; educating them about their rights and responsibilities as taxpayers; and identifying and advocating for issues that affect them.

Based in Wheaton, Prairie State's Low Income Tax Clinic assists individuals living throughout its 36-county service area who qualify for free advice or representation in federal income tax matters.

Although Prairie State receives IRS funding, the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Prairie State employees and volunteers are completely independent of the IRS.

Attorneys in the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic help clients dispute tax debts; stop IRS collections; get innocent spouse relief; and handle identity theft issues. In many cases, clients do not have to travel to the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, as matters can be done by phone, email, or mail.

For more information about Prairie State's Low Income Tax Clinic, visit www.pslegal.org/tax-law-project.asp.

Individuals with a tax issue can call (855) TAX-PSLS (1-855-829-7725) and leave a message with your name, phone number, and best time to return your phone call.

With 12 office locations serving 36 counties in northern and central Illinois, Prairie State Legal Services Inc. works to ensure equal access to justice and fair treatment under the law by providing legal advice and representation, advocacy, education, and outreach that serve to protect basic human needs and enforce or uphold rights. It provides free legal services for low-income persons and those age 60 and older who have serious civil legal problems and need legal help to solve them.

Prairie State Legal Services Inc. began serving clients in 1977. It started with five offices located in Geneva (Kane County), Waukegan (Lake County), Bloomington (McLean County), Peoria (Peoria County), and Rockford (Winnebago County). The staff consisted of 15 attorneys, three paralegals, and one or two support persons in each office.

Visit www.pslegal.org for more information.