IR-2022-171, October 4, 2022 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service recently awarded $41 million in Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grants to organizations that provide free federal tax return preparation. This year, the IRS awarded grants to 39 TCE and 309 VITA applicants PDF. The IRS received 413 applications requesting over $56 million in funding. The TCE program, established in 1978, provides free tax counseling and federal return preparation to individuals who are age 60 or older. Volunteers receive training and technical support to provide assistance at community locations across the nation. The VITA program, created in 1969, assists underserved communities, such as low- to moderate-income individuals and limited English proficient taxpayers. VITA grant recipients provide free federal tax return preparation and electronic filing. The grant program also helps expand VITA services to underserved populations. The IRS forms partnerships with a wide variety of organizations across the country to develop VITA and TCE programs. Community partners include nonprofit agencies, faith-based organizations, community centers and large employers. The IRS provides tax law training, certification and oversight to these organizations, supporting their efforts to prepare accurate returns. For information on applying for the TCE or VITA grant programs, along with a list of current grant recipients, visit Tax Counseling for the Elderly or the IRS VITA Grant Program. For details on becoming a TCE or VITA volunteer, visit IRS Tax Volunteers.
