Opportunity Information: Apply for TCE 2015 001

  • The Tax Counseling for the Elderly in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tax Counseling for the Elderly" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 21.006 Tax Counseling for the Elderly.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2014 and posted on May 1, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 2, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
Apply for TCE 2015 001

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Opportunity Summary:

The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program is a federal grant-supported initiative that funds free tax preparation and counseling services for people age 60 and older. Administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the program is built around trained volunteers who help eligible seniors prepare and file their federal income tax returns at no cost. While most direct service happens during the standard filing season (generally January 1 through April 15), the program is designed so that planning, volunteer recruitment, training, quality review, site coordination, and other supporting activities can take place year-round to keep service delivery efficient and accurate.

This opportunity is authorized by Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-600), which allows the IRS to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible nonprofit or public organizations to deliver these services. The grant structure reflects the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-224, codified at 31 USC Chapter 63), meaning recipients are expected to work collaboratively with the IRS under a cooperative agreement model rather than operate entirely independently. The underlying purpose of the funding is straightforward: to ensure older taxpayers have access to reliable, no-cost assistance in completing federal tax returns, with an emphasis on training and technical support for the volunteer workforce that makes the service possible.

In practical terms, organizations that receive TCE funding use it to operate local TCE programs, which commonly includes recruiting volunteers, providing IRS-approved training and certification pathways, organizing tax preparation sites, coordinating schedules and client flow, ensuring privacy and data protection, and maintaining quality controls so returns are prepared correctly. The IRS provides program guidance and expects grantees to have the capacity to manage a volunteer-based service model and to deliver consistent, high-quality assistance across the service period. Because the program is geared toward older adults, grantees typically focus on outreach methods and service locations that are accessible to seniors, and they build operational plans that can handle the seasonal spike in demand during filing time.

The specific listing provided is a discretionary funding opportunity with the funding instrument identified as a cooperative agreement. The activity category is described as "tax preparation and counseling services for the elderly," and it is associated with CFDA number 21.006 (Tax Counseling for the Elderly). The opportunity anticipated around 100 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $5,600,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated, which means applicants generally are not required to contribute a non-federal match to be eligible, although they still must demonstrate operational readiness and responsible financial management.

Eligibility is limited to certain applicant types, notably nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under this posting) and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. A key expectation is that applicants already have experience coordinating volunteer programs and have relevant experience with income tax return preparation. That requirement matters because the program relies heavily on effective volunteer management, standardized training, and adherence to IRS procedures, all of which can be difficult to build from scratch in a single filing season.

Key administrative details for this posting include a Funding Opportunity Number of TCE 2015 001, with a posted date of May 1, 2014 and an application closing date of June 2, 2014 (the archive date is July 2, 2014). Additional guidance and application materials are referenced through "2015 Publication 1101 TCE Application Package," which typically contains the program rules, proposal instructions, reporting expectations, and operational standards grantees must follow. For applicants who cannot access the announcement electronically, the contact provided is the Grant Program Office at 404-338-7894, along with a listed TCE email contact (not fully shown in the text provided).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program Grant

What is the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program?

The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program is a federally supported grant initiative that funds free tax preparation and counseling services for people age 60 and older. The program is administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is built around trained volunteers who help eligible seniors prepare and file federal income tax returns at no cost.

Who does the TCE Program serve?

The program is designed to serve taxpayers who are age 60 and older by providing no-cost assistance with preparing and filing federal income tax returns.

What services are funded under this opportunity?

Funding supports free tax preparation and counseling services for eligible seniors, typically delivered through local sites staffed by trained volunteers. Supported activities commonly include volunteer recruitment, volunteer training and certification pathways, site setup and coordination, scheduling and client flow, privacy and data protection practices, and quality controls to help ensure accurate return preparation.

Is the TCE Program run directly by the IRS?

The IRS administers the program and provides program guidance, but services are delivered locally by organizations that receive TCE funding and operate volunteer-based tax assistance programs under the IRS cooperative agreement model.

What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity is a discretionary funding opportunity and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. Under a cooperative agreement model, recipients are expected to work collaboratively with the IRS rather than operate entirely independently.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

It means the award structure anticipates collaboration with the IRS, with IRS program guidance and expectations built into how the funded work is carried out. Recipients should be prepared to follow IRS procedures and operational standards and to coordinate with the IRS as part of program delivery.

What is the legal authority for the TCE Program?

The opportunity is authorized by Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-600), which allows the IRS to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible nonprofit or public organizations to deliver services. The grant structure also reflects the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-224, codified at 31 USC Chapter 63).

When are TCE services typically delivered?

Most direct service occurs during the standard tax filing season, generally January 1 through April 15.

Can grant-funded work take place outside the filing season?

Yes. While direct service is concentrated in filing season, the program is designed so that planning, volunteer recruitment, training, quality review, site coordination, and other supporting activities can occur year-round to keep service delivery efficient and accurate.

What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to certain applicant types, including:

  • Nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under this posting)
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments

Are colleges and universities eligible to apply under this posting?

No. The posting specifies that nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status are eligible, but institutions of higher education are excluded under this posting.

What experience is expected of applicants?

Applicants are expected to already have experience coordinating volunteer programs and to have relevant experience with income tax return preparation. This matters because the program depends on effective volunteer management, standardized training, and adherence to IRS procedures.

What is the main purpose of the TCE funding?

The purpose of the funding is to ensure older taxpayers have access to reliable, no-cost assistance in completing federal tax returns, with an emphasis on training and technical support for the volunteer workforce that delivers the service.

How many awards are anticipated and what is the estimated total funding?

The listing anticipates around 100 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $5,600,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided. That generally means applicants are not required to contribute a non-federal match to be eligible, though they are still expected to demonstrate operational readiness and responsible financial management.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is described as "tax preparation and counseling services for the elderly."

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The program is associated with CFDA number 21.006 (Tax Counseling for the Elderly).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?

The Funding Opportunity Number is TCE 2015 001.

What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The posting date is May 1, 2014. The application closing date is June 2, 2014. The archive date is July 2, 2014.

Where are the application instructions and requirements found?

Additional guidance and application materials are referenced through the "2015 Publication 1101 TCE Application Package," which typically includes program rules, proposal instructions, reporting expectations, and operational standards that grantees must follow.

What operational responsibilities do funded organizations typically manage?

Funded organizations commonly manage the day-to-day operations of local TCE programs, including recruiting and coordinating volunteers, facilitating IRS-approved training and certification pathways, organizing tax preparation sites, coordinating schedules and client flow, protecting taxpayer privacy and data, and maintaining quality controls so returns are prepared correctly.

Does the IRS provide program guidance to grantees?

Yes. The IRS provides program guidance and expects grantees to have the capacity to manage a volunteer-based service model and to deliver consistent, high-quality assistance during the service period.

How do grantees typically ensure services are accessible to seniors?

Because the program is geared toward older adults, grantees typically use outreach methods and service locations that are accessible to seniors and build operational plans to handle the seasonal increase in demand during filing time.

What should an applicant do if they cannot access the announcement electronically?

Applicants who cannot access the announcement electronically are directed to contact the Grant Program Office at 404-338-7894. A TCE email contact is also referenced, but the email address is not fully shown in the information provided.

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