PEOPLE'S TAX CLINIC

 A 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization

The Inspiration

Preparing a tax return can be a daunting task, but it is one that is required if a person’s annual income meets or exceeds a certain threshold set by the IRS. In many cases, preparing and filing an income tax return may be beneficial even if a person’s annual income does not require them to do so. Many credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), target the low-income population – in some cases, so low that the annual income does not even meet the threshold requirement for filing. In order to maximize the potential of programs such as the ETIC and CTC, low-income taxpayers – the target audience of the EITC – needs to be claimed by as many eligible taxpayers as possible. The People’s Tax Clinic is a resource for low income taxpayers to accomplish this.

TAX PREPARATION, COUNSELING, AND ADVISING

The People’s Tax Clinic (PTC) is a non-profit, community-based service that aims to provide free tax preparation and controversy services for low-income taxpayers. Through years of professional tax and legal services, we have noticed a need – and a desire – for low-income tax preparation and controversy resolution services. Year in and year out, we have witnessed the overwhelming need for education about the tax system, assistance with income tax return preparation and filing, and guidance with notices and requests from the IRS. Taxpayers flock to IRS VITA sites and, with them, bring stories of struggle, strife, and triumph. These stories have helped to guide us in shaping the People’s Tax Clinic.

Tax “season,” for us, is year-round. While the majority of the public will seek tax preparation assistance between the first of January and April 15th, we recognize the need for expanded, year-round services. Issues often arise when complicated situations or circumstances are presented, which often require extensions or extended conversations with the IRS. As a result, the People’s Tax Clinic will be open to the general public, with a specific emphasis on assisting low-income taxpayers. Return preparation can be done on a walk-in basis, or, should a taxpayer prefer to have their return completed by a specific PTC Employee, they can schedule an appointment.

ESTATE AND FAMILY PLANNING

There is a beauty in having a low income tax clinic run by a CPA, MBA and a JD, LLM. Our concept is a little bit different than others. In addition to providing tax preparation service to low income taxpayers, we have recognized a need for other services, as well. Years of interacting with taxpayers who frequent VITA sites have unveiled an interesting current that runs throughout the community: the need for estate planning (and probate) services. In some cases, there are assets that are few and far between, but planning is still necessary to make the distribution of those assets as flawless and smooth as possible upon passing.

Family strife, the need to leave something to certain family members or charities, or any number of desires can alter how an estate is disbursed. Many of the taxpayers we have encountered do not even have a will. They fear it is either too expensive, too complicated, or unnecessary since they may not believe they have a lot to their name. However, as both professionals and private citizens who have experienced loss, we recognize that wealthy clients are not the only demographic who should benefit from estate planning. Perhaps the execution of such planning will be different in many cases. However, estate planning should not be a tool that is exclusively available to the wealthy. We have witnessed a need for estate planning in the low income taxpayer community, and we are ready to provide free or low-cost estate planning services to fill the void that currently exists.

Low income estate planning may seem unorthodox and counterintuitive, but estate planning includes more than just creating a will and setting up trusts. What happens if a taxpayer falls ill and is hospitalized without a living will? What happens if a taxpayer loses the capacity to make decisions for him or herself, but has no powers of attorney to appoint a custodian? What happens when a taxpayer falls ill and has no healthcare directives to advise the family and physicians of his or her wishes? We want these questions to be a thing of the past. Low income taxpayers should not be kept from having these, and other, important legal documents simply because they are too cost prohibitive or seemingly overwhelming. We will help guide our clients through the necessary steps, and help them to create a life and estate plan to minimize stress in trying times.

What is the People's Tax Clinic?