DU Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Recognized by IRS for Most Refunds Released

For tax year 2024, the University of Denver's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) facilitated the release of $449,530 in refunds from the IRS to its clients – the highest dollar amount refunded in 2024 by any of the 138 clinics in the LITC program nationwide, according to the IRS. “I am very proud of what we accomplished last year and the Rocky Mountain region benefitted immensely from our clinic’s efforts,” said Sabrina Strand, director of DU’s LITC and assistant professor of the practice of taxation at the Sturm College of Law.

Staffed by Strand and LITC Attorney Heather Hill, clients of DU’s LITC are also served by current Denver Law students who are earning their Juris Doctor, Master’s in Tax or Master’s of Law in Taxation degrees. Students participate in the clinic for course credit or as volunteers, along with volunteer attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents from the community. LITC students and volunteers work directly with the IRS and Colorado Department of Revenue on behalf of low-income taxpayers. 

Both Strand and Hill have been recognized with fellowships from the American Bar Association (ABA): Strand is a 2025-26 ABA John S. Nolan Fellow, and Hill is a 2025-27 ABA Tax Analysts Public Service Fellow.

In addition to securing the highest release of refunds to their clients, the clinic also reduced its clients’ tax liabilities by almost a quarter million dollars for 2024. The chart below tracks a total of over $1.25M in refunds released and over $6.25M in liabilities reduced for clients by the DU LITC since tax year 2018, along with other notable successes.