Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program

 

This grant authorizes the Internal Revenue Service to provide a matching grant to private or non-profit organizations providing free tax return preparation through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program; extending VITA services to underserved populations and hardest-to-reach areas, both urban and non-urban. Specific goals include increase the capacity to file returns electronically, heighten quality control, enhance training of volunteers, and significantly improve the accuracy rate of returns prepared by VITA sites.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
21.009
Federal Agency/Office
Internal Revenue Service, Department of The Treasury
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2017 No current data available. No final data currently available.
Fiscal Year 2018 1,465,518 Returns Prepared
Fiscal Year 2019 Over 4 million taxpayers assisted during 2019 through the VITA Grant Program
Fiscal Year 2020 Over 1 million taxpayers assisted through the VITA Grant during 2020
Fiscal Year 2021 Nearly 900,000 taxpayers were assisted through the VITA Grant Program during 2021.
Fiscal Year 2023 A conservative growth rate of 1% increase in the number of federal tax returns prepared.
Authorization
Taxpayer First Act 2019, Public Law 116-25
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must have experience in operating a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Helping low-income individuals and families, elderly, rural, persons with disabilities, Native American, limited English proficient and military individuals and family.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicant organizations must provide proof of tax-exempt status and must meet the matching funds requirement. Applicant organizations must be compliant with federal tax obligations and not debarred or suspended. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 2 applies to this program.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Complete application procedures are included in IRS Publication 4671, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions. Applicants must provide proof of their entity status (i.e. tax-exempt organization/government agency). Matching funds must be documented.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Follow the application instructions in IRS Publication 4671, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions. Applicants must provide proof of their organization's tax-exempt status. Recipients must maintain matching funds documentation. Eligible organizations must submit their application through grants.gov on or before May 31, 2024.
Award Procedure
The IRS evaluates all complete applications meeting initial eligibility requirements on technical merit, capacity to reach the targeted audiences, geographic coverage and prior year performance.
Deadlines
May 1, 2024 to May 31, 2024
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
A multi-year award may be issued up to a maximum 3 years with year 2 and 3 renewals. A partial application must be submitted through grants.gov each year to renew. When year 3 expires applicants must submit a full application as a New type of application.
How are proposals selected?
Eligible applications go through a 2-tier review process: (1) A technical evaluation (ranking) by Internal Revenue Service employees; and (2) A program evaluation involving an in-depth review of the applicant's program plan, budget information, financial operations and past performance. The review considers the applicants proposed geographic coverage and target audiences.
How may assistance be used?
Recipients must use grant funds to operate a VITA program. Allowable expenses must be in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, reasonable, necessary and allocable.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Recipients must monitor volunteer compliance with program regulations and requirements, adhere to grant terms and conditions, and comply with applicable 2 CFR 200 regulations. Recipients must track their filing season performance and report results through the year-end report.
Auditing
The Federal Audit Clearinghouse operates on behalf of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and its primary purpose is to disseminate audit information to Federal agencies and the public. If the most recent audit showed an unfavorable finding, it will not automatically disqualify you from consideration; however, more information may be requested to ensure any deficiencies noted in the audit have been corrected.
Records
Recipients must maintain a record keeping system in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to support all information reported. Recipients must maintain receipts and other matching funds documentation for a minimum of three years following the submission of the final report.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 100%. Recipients must provide documentation for matching funds requirements. See Publication 4671 for detailed information.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The grant period of performance is October 1st through September 30th. The IRS releases grant funds on an immediate need or reimbursement basis. The IRS deposits funding in an account managed by Health and Human Services Division of Payment Management. Recipients request and receive funds electronically after account establishment. Reimbursement
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Grant Program Office
401 West Peachtree Street, NW, Stop 420-D
Atlanta, GA 30308 US
Grant.Program.Office@irs.gov
Phone: 470-639-2935
Website Address
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-VITA-Grant-Program
Financial Information
Account Identification
20-0912-0-1-803
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 23$30,000,000.00; FY 24 est $40,000,000.00; FY 25 est $40,000,000.00; FY 22$25,000,000.00; FY 21$25,000,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No Data Available
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Publication 4671, VITA Grant Program Overview and Application Instructions Publication 4883, Grant Programs Resource Guide Code of Federal Regulations Title 2 Part 200
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 



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