NHBA - Bar News Issue

Support Of Lawyers/Legal Personnel All Concern Encouraged

Bar News - December 17, 2010

Low-Income Taxpayer Project Makes a Difference in Families’ Lives

The Pro Bono Low-Income Taxpayer Project (LITP) of the New Hampshire Bar Association has been assisting low- to moderate-income taxpayers since 2003. Project volunteers are invaluable to the Project through their representation of taxpayers to resolve federal tax controversies with the IRS. Our volunteers – attorneys, accountants and enrolled agents across the state – have helped make a difference for many families and individuals, including:

a single mother who fell behind on her taxes and was unable to file on her own;
a self-employed worker who ran afoul of the tax rules and owed a large debt to the IRS;
an innocent spouse who was abused for years and needed relief from her ex-spouse’s tax debt;
and a disabled senior citizen whose only source of income, Social Security, was being threatened with a levy for an old tax assessment.

An Advisory Panel of attorneys (David Barradale, Bill Boesch, and Beth Fowler) assists the LITP by answering questions and reviewing cases for the Project Coordinator, mentoring newer volunteers, providing recruitment and training ideas, and taking cases themselves. The LITP recently thanked these dedicated volunteers at a luncheon. These attorneys are some of our most dedicated volunteers and the Project’s success is a testament to their consistent support over the years.

Given the current state of our economy, however, more people than ever are qualifying for the LITP’s, services need additional volunteers. "Back to Basics: Collection Cases before the IRS," was held earlier this year in May and copies of the training materials are available to any attorney interested in joining the volunteer panel. The LITP coordinates mentors as well as providing other support to those without an extensive tax background who would like to help out.

Project staff is also always looking for new training ideas. Let us know if there is a topic you would like to see covered, and we will try to work it into our next seminar, which will take place in 2011.

The Project Coordinator, Joceline Champagne, can be reached at 603-715-3262 or via e-mail.

New Hampshire Bar Association
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phone: (603) 224-6942 fax: (603) 224-2910
email: NHBAinfo@nhbar.org
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