Free Legal Help for Federal Tax Problems
by: Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (New Orleans office)
LOUISIANA LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC
CALL 504-529-1000
(if long distance call, call
toll-free at 877-521-6242)
Free legal help for federal tax problems
Louisiana residents may get free legal help with federal tax problems from the Louisiana Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.
The Louisiana Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic is run by Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, a civil legal aid program for low-income people.
The Clinic is independent of the Internal Revenue Service and the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
All conversations with our attorneys and staff are confidential.
Who can we help?
The Clinic serves low-income taxpayers who have disputes with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS").
If your family income is less than 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, we may be able to help you. If you don't know whether you qualify, call our intake staff. They will be happy to help you.
We cannot accept cases for a tax year in which the IRS claims that you owe more than $50,000.
If you live in Greater New Orleans, call us at 504-529-1000. If this is a long distance call for you, call us toll-free at 877-521-6242.
If you live in the Baton Rouge area, you may also get tax law help from the Southern University Law Clinic at 225-771-3333.
What can we help with?
We can:
!Answer federal tax questions
!Explain your tax problems to you and what can be done
!Help with IRS audits and exams
!Fight and appeal Earned Income Credit denials
!Help you get or sue for tax refunds
!Represent people in Tax Court (deficiency notices)
!Work out tax debts
!Reduce or stop levies ("garnishments")
!Get relief from joint tax return debt (Innocent Spouse Relief)
!Get back your part of the tax refund if kept by the IRS for your spouse's debt (Injured Spouse Claims)
!Get you treated as an "employee" if your employer wrongly treated you as an independent contractor
More information on many of these tax problems can be found below:
IRS exams or audits
Did you get a letter from the IRS telling you that your tax return is being examined? If you are low-income, the letter usually says that the IRS is reviewing your Earned Income Credit, filing status, dependency exemptions and child tax credits.
We can tell you if the IRS is wrong. (They are often wrong on Earned Income Credit issues). We can help you:
!Get the evidence you need to support your tax refund or claim
!Ask the IRS to change its decision if it has already ruled against you
!Appeal the first IRS decision to an Appeals Officer
!Take your case to the Tax Court if you get a 90 day deficiency notice or lose your IRS appeal
!Sue for a refund to get your money back if you paid the taxes
Earned Income Credit Denials
Have you been denied your Earned Income Credit? Did the IRS freeze your Earned Income Credit refund and ask you for more proof? Were you asked to send information proving that your child lived with you?
Many taxpayers are wrongly denied the Earned Income Credit no matter how much proof they send to the IRS.
We can help you get the right evidence to win your Earned Income Credit. If the IRS is wrong, we can appeal your case within the IRS and even to the courts.
It is best to fight or appeal Earned Income Credit denials right away.
However, even if you were denied many years ago, there may be a way to get your refund. We can advise you on your rights.
Deficiency Notices
Did you get a notice from the IRS that there is a "deficiency" in your taxes?
This means the IRS has found that you owe taxes. The IRS will try to collect the taxes from you unless you file a lawsuit in the Tax Court within 90 days of the notice.
Do not sign any papers waiving (giving up) your right to sue in Tax Court. Talk to a lawyer first. If you don't sue within 90 days of the notice, you lose your right to fight the IRS without first paying the taxes they say you owe.
We can tell you whether you can win in Tax Court. If you have a good case, we may represent you in Tax Court or find a volunteer tax attorney who will help you. The legal help will be free. You may have to pay for court costs.
Innocent Spouse Relief
Did you get a bill or letter from the IRS for taxes on money that your spouse or ex-spouse made?
Do you think it would be unfair to make you pay your spouse's taxes?
Do you think you should only have to pay part or none of these taxes?
You may qualify for innocent spouse relief. We can help you figure out whether you can get this relief and help you apply. Also, if the IRS turns down your request for relief, we may take an appeal for you.
Injured Spouse Claims
Did the IRS take your tax refund to pay a debt your spouse had before you were married?
The IRS often takes tax refunds for a spouse's debts for taxes, school loans, federal benefits overpayments and child support.
If you filed a joint return and had your own income, you may have a right to some of the refund.
We can help you file an injured spouse claim to get part of the refund. If the IRS wrongly denies your claim, we can help you fight it.
Tax Debt
Do you have a tax debt that you can't pay?
We can help you figure out what can be done about your debt, liens and levies. Some possible choices are:
!Installment agreement
!Offer in Compromise
!Stop collection
!Lower the amount taken from your wages or benefits
!Help you with liens and levies
!Taxpayer assistance order
!Challenge the tax if possible
Didn't file your tax return?
If you didn't file your tax return, we can tell you what the IRS can do to you. We can also explain what your choices are for taking care of your tax problems.
Tax return preparation
We are not a tax return preparation service. However, we can do your back tax returns if necessary to fix your tax law problem.
Employee or Independent Contractor?
Did your employer give you a Form 1099 instead of a Form W-2?
If you got a Form 1099, this means that your employer is treating you as an independent contractor, not as an employee.
It means that he did not pay Social Security taxes on your wages. This will make you pay more taxes and may lower your Social Security check when you retire. Usually, it is better to be an employee than an independent contractor.
We can help you get the IRS to say whether you are an employee or independent contractor.
How to apply for our legal help
Call Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (New Orleans) at (504) 529-1000 and ask for the Taxpayer Clinic. Tell the intake staff that you have a federal tax problem and that you need legal help. If calling long distance, you may call toll free at 877-521-6242. The extension for the Taxpayer Clinic is extension 225.
How to be ready for your interview
You should bring all your tax papers when you see us.
Bring these papers to your interview:
!Any tax notices, letters or bills from the IRS or Tax Court
!Your tax returns for the years in question or under review
!Information on your current income and any bankruptcies filed
Don't be afraid of the IRS-Fight for your rights
Many people lose their rights and get stuck paying taxes they don't owe. Why? Because they are afraid of the IRS. They don't reply or see a lawyer when they get a notice from the IRS.
Your problems won't go away by ignoring the IRS. They will only get worse. Seek help to work out your tax problems NOW. You may have more choices than you think.
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