Center For Taxpayer Rights

ADVANCING TAXPAYER RIGHTS IN THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TAXPAYER RIGHTS, THE LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC SUPPORT CENTER, THE TAXPAYER RIGHTS DIGEST AND WEBSITE.

REIMAGINING TAX ADMINISTRATION WORKSHOPS: THE CENTER ORGANIZES AND CONVENES AN ONLINE WORKSHOP SERIES THAT FOCUS ON DIFFERENT CHALLENGES TO TAX ADMINISTRATION, BRINGING TOGETHER EXPERTS TO CONSIDER HOW TO IMPROVE TAX ADMINISTRATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY, FROM A TAXPAYER RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE. THE FIRST SERIES WAS HELD IN THE FALL OF 2021, REIMAGINING TAX ADMINISTRATION: SOCIAL PROGRAMS THROUGH THE TAX CODE. THE SERIES EXPLORED THE CHALLENGES FACED BY TAXPAYERS AND IRS ALIKE WHEN THE TAX SYSTEM IS USED TO DELIVER SOCIAL BENEFITS TO LOW INCOME AND OTHER UNDER-RESOURCED POPULATIONS.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TAXPAYER RIGHTS (ICTR): THE CENTER ORGANIZES AND CONVENES AN ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TAXPAYER RIGHTS. THE ICTR BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOLARS, PRACTITIONERS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM OVER 40 COUNTRIES TO DISCUSS AND EXPLORE HOW TO PROMOTE, ENHANCE, AND PROVIDE TAXPAYER RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS. IN 2021, THE CENTER HELD TWO ICTRS AS ONLINE CONFERENCES BECAUSE THE 2020 CONFERENCE WAS RESCHEDULED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE THEME OF THE MAY 2021 CONFERENCE WAS "QUALITY TAX AUDITS AND THE PROTECTION OF TAXPAYER RIGHTS." THE THEME OF THE SOUTH AFRICA CONFERENCE WAS "TAXPAYER RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS: ISSUES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES." EACH OF THE CONFERENCES WILL INCLUDE A PRE- OR POST-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP OR ROUNDTABLE FOR PERSONS WORKING FOR OR INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINICS AND TAXPAYER ADVOCATE/OMBUDS OFFICES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES. VIDEOS AND MATERIALS OF THE CONFERENCE PANELS ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE CENTER'S WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC SUPPORT CENTER: THE CENTER SUPPORTS LITCS IN THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH ITS LITC SUPPORT CENTER. THE CENTER WORKS WITH ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CREATING LITCS, AND ALSO WORKS WITH TAX AGENCIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT LITCS. IN THE US, THE CENTER HAS CREATED AN LITC ADVISORY BOARD WITH A DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP OF LITC DIRECTORS; THE CENTER ALSO HOSTS A WEEKLY LITIGATION STRATEGY CALL WITH US LITCS TO COORDINATE LITIGATION AND IDENTIFY EMERGING ISSUES. THE CENTER IS DEVELOPING A NATIONWIDE PRO BONO REFERRAL NETWORK, THROUGH ITS APPLICATION, LITC CONNECT, WHICH MATCHES UP VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS WITH SMALL, RURAL AND OTHER LITCS THAT DO NOT HAVE MANY VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE LITC CONNECT APP LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 2021. DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE LITC CONNECT APP COST $21,500, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A DEPRECIABLE ASSET AND NOT AN EXPENDITURE. THE LITC SUPPORT CENTER WEBSITE, WWW.LITCSUPPORTCENTER.ORG, NOT ONLY HOSTS LITC CONNECT BUT PROVIDES RESOURCES AND TRAINING FOR LOW INCOME TAXPAYERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.