MVLS, The Comptroller of Maryland and MSBA Taxation Section Partner to Connect Volunteer Tax Attorneys with Taxpayers in Need
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), the Comptroller of Maryland and the Maryland State Bar Association Taxation Section created a new tax hotline (443-451-4091) to easily connect low-income Marylanders and recently furloughed federal employees, including contractors, with volunteer attorneys and other tax professionals. The volunteers will provide free guidance and resources for taxpayers in need of help.
“It can be extremely overwhelming to navigate tax challenges when you’re already living paycheck to paycheck, or living without a paycheck as many furloughed federal employees recently experienced,” said Janice Shih, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) managing attorney, MVLS. “We saw a need to quickly connect taxpayers with tax attorneys and other professionals who can guide them through their individual tax challenges, as well as challenges created by the shutdown. Many taxpayers who were in the middle of dealing with the IRS, through an audit, appeals or collections, saw that their cases were shut down in the middle. These taxpayers might have questions about what to do next, and even though the IRS phone lines are working, there can be a significant wait time for a response. Through the new tax hotline, we will provide general advice about resolution of their tax problems, as well as offer resources for individual tax help.”
The hotline will be staffed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experienced volunteer attorneys, certified public accountants (CPAs) and enrolled agents will help taxpayers with personal income liabilities and other outstanding tax obligations and questions.
"We appreciate the opportunity to partner with an outstanding organization like Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service as well as the Comptroller of Maryland to provide this resource to taxpayers," commented Beverly Winstead, MSBA Tax Section Chair.
About Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)
Founded in 1981 with a mission to provide access to justice for all, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) serves Maryland’s low-income residents by offering legal counseling and full representation for civil cases. MVLS matches clients with volunteer lawyers who represent them in a wide range of consumer, family and workforce re-entry situations, including foreclosure, bankruptcy, income tax disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, wills, estate planning, criminal record expungement, divorce/custody and deed changes. For more information about MVLS’ services, visit www.mvlslaw.org.
