Three things this month. First, our client story highlights our Low Income Taxpayer Clinic's (LITC) advocacy to make sure Amanda and her kids got the refund their family deserved. And because tax season just started, we also include updated taxpayer resources below.

Second, our January "Donuts & The Law" series hosted 92 staffers from our nonprofit and government partner organizations to learn about family law issues which most often impact our shared client communities. We also include links to some downloadable resources on Personal Protection Orders and the divorce process.

Last, take a look at our service area map to learn which of our 17 counties each of our offices cover, and for phone numbers people can call to apply for our help.

“Amanda” is raising three kids with no income to spare. In 2022 she filed her tax return on time and expected a refund of over $15,000, money which she was relying on to meet family living expenses.

Instead of getting the refund, she got a series of vague IRS notices about her return being under review. Amanda called the IRS more than once but got no clear explanation about what was happening. Eighteen months passed and Amanda was at her wit's end about what happened to her refund.

Fortunately, Amanda found our Low Income Tax Clinic and contacted us. We took her case, and our LITC staff attorney advocated for over three months with both the IRS and its Taxpayer Advocate Service. The result: Amanda had done nothing wrong, and she got a check for all the money she was owed. Plus interest. 

Amanda said: "The amount of hardship I faced the past few years was hard but not knowing how to get help for it made it even worse. I did not know what to do or where to go. To finally be done with it is a huge relief. I hope sharing my story will help a lot more families get the help they need.”

Here are two resources highlighting helpful info and benefits for low-income taxpayers:

Last week we held five Donuts & The Law programs throughout our service area, hosting 92 staffers from our nonprofit and government partner organizations for an overview of family law issues. We lost count of how many donuts were involved, but it was a lot!

LAWM and our partners work in the same client communities, and our joint advocacy for families is vital: we help vulnerable adults and kids to get safe from domestic violence, end abusive marriages, and agree on orderly parenting arrangements which prioritize kids' wellbeing.

We're grateful to have great partners, and we were thrilled to see (and feed!) dozens of you last week.

Here are two of the handouts we shared at the programs:

Our five offices cover 17 counties in West and Southwest Michigan: