Tax Law Institute | 1717 N Street NW |STE 1 |Washington, DC 20036 | +1(202) 800-9230

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"Giving Back... through free legal services"

TAX LAW INSTITUTE Pro Bono | Hawai'i

United States Tax Court Practitioners & Tax Litigation Counsels

Legal Educators of Federally-Authorized Tax Practitioners

Volunteer

Free Legal Services|Low-Income Taxpayers

Petitions

Hearings & Trials

Petitions

If you've received a '90-day letter' it means that the IRS has made a determination that you have a tax deficiency and owe back taxes. If you contact us immediately after you've received the letter then we can advise you as to what to do. Remember, you have fewer than 90-days to respond. The clock starts on the date the 90-day notice is m

If you've received a '90-day letter' it means that the IRS has made a determination that you have a tax deficiency and owe back taxes. If you contact us immediately after you've received the letter then we can advise you as to what to do. Remember, you have fewer than 90-days to respond. The clock starts on the date the 90-day notice is mailed by the IRS.

If you can document how and why you believe the determination is unjust then we may be able to challenge the deficiency determination in the U.S. Tax Court. But first you must provide us with authorization to represent you (POA) and we will provide you with a retainer agreement. There are no charges.

Afterwards, we will prepare and file the petition with the Court clerk. We will represent you when your case is sent to docketed appeals (IRS). We will attempt to reach a settlement with the appeals' officer at the hearing that will follow.

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Appeals

Hearings & Trials

Petitions

We collect from you all documents that are relevant to your case and that are cited in the notice of (tax) deficiency. Then we conduct our research, evaluate what we discover and transmit the supportive findings that we deem to be evidentiary to the Appeals' attorney who gets assigned to your case.

We will represent you at the impending he

We collect from you all documents that are relevant to your case and that are cited in the notice of (tax) deficiency. Then we conduct our research, evaluate what we discover and transmit the supportive findings that we deem to be evidentiary to the Appeals' attorney who gets assigned to your case.

We will represent you at the impending hearing before the IRS independent Office of Appeals, where we will attempt to settle your case with the assigned officer. The hearing is your last opportunity to resolve the tax controversy without litigation so it is best if it is attended only by us, your legal representatives. You will be well-briefed afterwards.

If we are unable to reach a settlement, your case will be sent back to the Court. We will then consider the feasibility of proceeding to trial in and before the U.S. Tax Court - all the while, we will continue to seek any opportunity to reach a pre-trial settlement at any point thereafter.

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Hearings & Trials

No one wants to litigate. It is expensive and time-consuming. However, we will represent you in and before the U.S. Tax Court and argue your tax matter, if we deem the facts of your case to be properly documented and warrant a trial.

But we will try, right up to day of trial, as well as during the trial, to reach a settlement. Nevertheles

No one wants to litigate. It is expensive and time-consuming. However, we will represent you in and before the U.S. Tax Court and argue your tax matter, if we deem the facts of your case to be properly documented and warrant a trial.

But we will try, right up to day of trial, as well as during the trial, to reach a settlement. Nevertheless, we will not shy away from a trial if the IRS counsel is unmoved.

Supervised by our Tax Court Litigation Counsel, our team of pro bono student representatives, composed of experienced federally-authorized tax practitioners with various expertise, and United States Tax Court Practitioners, will work diligently to organize the facts of your case and get you ready (to give witness testimony) for your proceedings. We will prepare all trial documents, decide on the best evidence, and aggressively prosecute your case - all at no cost to you, beyond the $60 filing fee that you must pay.

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Pro Bono Student Representatives & Supervising Tax Counsel

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Kathryn Franklin, M.Sc. Accounting, M.Sc. Auditing | U.S. Tax Court Apprentice | Business Manager

She is the free tax clinic's interim business manager, Montana ranch owner and a specialist in agricultural management.
She is a seasoned mortgage banker with graduate degrees in accounting and auditing and boast a track-record as a very competent construction manager.

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Jeffrey Thompson, E.A. M.A. MBA, USTCP | U.S. Tax Court Apprentice | Acting Clinic Director of the Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic on O'ahu

He is the former Team Leader of the pro bono student reps and a small business and entertainment tax specialist.
Recently-admitted as United States Tax Court Practitioner. He is now the Acting Coordinator of the Clinical Program and Acting Clinic Director of the nonprofit we support.
He holds an MBA in marketing and the B.A. and M.A. in psychology.

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

Samir Bitar, E.A. MBA | U.S. Tax Court Apprentice | Development Officer

He is the interim Development Officer for the free tax clinic, and a specialist in nonprofit tax matters.
He is the former museum director for the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
And, he is an MBA with a specialization in the administration of creative industries and arts organizations.

Chief Tax Litigation Counsel

IRC Scholar & Faculty Advisor

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

Louis B. Carpenter III CPA, CFA, USTCP

He is an Assistant Professor at the Tax Law Institute at Washington DC and the former registered coordinator of the U.S. Tax Court, Student Practice and Calendar Call Program for the Hawai'i Federal Tax Clinic. To learn more, please visit https://taxlawinstitute.com/pro-bono-program

IRC Scholar & Faculty Advisor

Serina Moy E.A.

She is Faculty Advisor to the Pro Bono Program. She also is the 2024-2025 Resident Scholar and Senior Lecturer in the IRC for the U.S. Tax Court Tax Bar Prep and Apprenticeship Program at the Tax Law Institute at Washington DC. To learn more, please visit https://taxlawinstitute.com/

OUR FREE SERVICES

Advocacy

We are here to protect you and your rights. As an American worker your income and wages are subject to taxes. Your tax payments are used to support a government that is elected to serve all the people. This includes you.

If you believe that you have been treated unfairly by the IRS then we are here to negotiate on your behalf. Not only will we counsel you, we will also educate you and stand in your defense.

And, if you are deficient in the amount of federal tax that you have paid, and you owe money and simply can't afford to pay then we can usually arrange a payment plan for you with the IRS that won't take a big bite out of your paycheck.

Whatever the federal tax problem, please know that we are here to help. Just call us. We've been negotiating with the Federal government for a very long time, so we can usually find a way to work things out with the IRS.

Taxpayer Education

We educate low income taxpayers about taxpayer rights and responsibilities. We offer free, remote consultations and classes that teach individuals the basics of the IRC so that no one has to fear the IRS.

Our clients are given free access to mini-courses simply by dialing in to a virtual conference room. There, they can speak directly to a tax expert who can answer almost any question they might have about federal tax obligations, regulations and procedures.

For those who work from home or who have a small business such as a landscaping service or some other sources of self-employment income, for example, Uber driver, we offer tips and tax planning advice to help you stay on top of your business. And for the more ambitious, we provide short business management classes with tools to improve your cash flows and to better manage your money. Online federal tax tutorials will post soon and continue each month thereafter.

Legal Services & Representation

We are strictly a federal tax clinic and address only federal tax matters. Through our tax and pro bono legal services, our federally-authorized tax practitioners and tax litigation counsel can resolve tax controversies before the IRS and U.S. Tax Court. Their services are free. But taxpayers pay their own court fees.

So, how would you know that your tax matter may require attention? Usually, you'll receive a notice in the mail from the IRS that tells you that you owe money to the government. The IRS notice is called a "30-day letter".

You must contact us immediately if you get such a letter because we can talk to the IRS appeals office and probably negotiate a settlement. But if you wait too long then our counsel will have to file a "petition" and represent you in Tax Court. This is a process that can be avoided if you get in touch with us as soon as you receive the 30-day letter. Remember, we handle only Federal tax matters. No State of Hawaii tax issues unless they relate to a Federal tax return.

"Giving Back... through free legal services"

TAX LAW INSTITUTE Pro Bono | Hawai'i

Free Legal Services|Low-Income Taxpayers

Petitions

Hearings & Trials

Petitions

Appeals

Hearings & Trials

Petitions

Hearings & Trials

Hearings & Trials

Hearings & Trials

Pro Bono | Tax Litigation Clinic

Pro Bono Student Representatives & Supervising Tax Counsel

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

Pro Bono United States Tax Court Practitioner

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

Chief Tax Litigation Counsel

IRC Scholar & Faculty Advisor

Authorized Pro Bono Student Representative

IRC Scholar & Faculty Advisor

IRC Scholar & Faculty Advisor

IRC Scholar & Faculty Advisor

OUR FREE SERVICES

Advocacy

Taxpayer Education

Legal Services & Representation

Legal Services & Representation

Self-Study | 2025 Tax Bar Examination

Self-Instructing Tax Law Library Using A.I.

Join Our Team | Apply for Admission

REMOTE ClASSES

Tax Bar Prep

Federal Tax Litigation

Federal Tax Litigation

Federal Tax Litigation

Federal Tax Litigation

Federal Tax Litigation

Student Trial Practice

Federal Tax Litigation

Student Trial Practice

Apply to become a United States Tax Court Practitioner | Tax Litigation Counsel

To apply call +1.202.800.9230 | Text IQ-58894529