Opportunity Information: Apply for TCE 2016 001
Apply for TCE 2016 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 27, 2015 and posted on May 1, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 1, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 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).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant opportunity is a federal program run by the Internal Revenue Service that funds free tax preparation and counseling services for people age 60 and older. The core purpose is to make sure older taxpayers can get reliable help understanding and filing their federal income tax returns at no cost, especially during the main filing season, while also supporting the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a volunteer-based tax program accurate, consistent, and accessible.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning recipients do not just receive funds and operate independently; they work in coordination with the IRS under the terms of the agreement. The program is authorized by Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-600), which specifically allows the IRS to enter into agreements with public or private nonprofit organizations to provide training and technical assistance to volunteers who deliver free tax help to older adults. Funding for the program is appropriated by Congress as a dedicated line item in the IRS budget, and then distributed to selected grant recipients to cover allowable program expenses.
Eligible applicants are limited to certain types of organizations with the capacity to run a volunteer-driven tax assistance operation. For this posting, eligible applicants include nonprofits with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) 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, since the program relies heavily on trained volunteers delivering standardized, compliant tax assistance in local communities.
Grant recipients use the funds to operate local TCE programs, which typically focus their direct service delivery between January 1 and April 15, the standard federal tax filing period. At the same time, the announcement makes clear that program activities can occur year-round when needed to ensure quality and efficiency. In practice, that includes recruiting and organizing volunteers, scheduling and staffing sites, coordinating training, maintaining quality review processes, providing taxpayer assistance appointments, ensuring proper use of IRS tools and procedures, and handling outreach so eligible seniors know where and how to access services.
In this specific funding announcement (Funding Opportunity Number TCE 2016-001), the IRS anticipated making about 40 awards with an estimated total funding level of $6.1 million. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 21.006 (Tax Counseling for the Elderly). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated, which means applicants are not required to contribute a formal non-federal match as a condition of receiving funds, although organizations often still leverage in-kind support and volunteers to deliver services effectively.
Key dates in the posting show it was made available on May 1, 2015, with an application closing date of June 1, 2015, and an archive date of July 1, 2015. Additional guidance was referenced through "Publication 1101" for the 2016 program year, which is commonly used to outline program rules, administrative expectations, and operating guidance for TCE grantees.
For applicants or interested parties who could not access the full announcement electronically, the notice provided a point of contact at the Grant Program Office, including a phone number (404-338-7894) and an email contact field for the TCE Grant Office. Overall, the opportunity is designed to strengthen local capacity to deliver free, high-quality federal tax return preparation and counseling to seniors by funding organizations that can recruit, train, and manage volunteers while coordinating closely with IRS requirements.
Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Grant (FON: TCE 2016-001) - FAQs
1) What is the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant?
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant is a federal program administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that funds free tax preparation and counseling services for individuals age 60 and older. The goal is to help older taxpayers understand and file their federal income tax returns at no cost, while also supporting the operational work needed to run a consistent, accurate, and accessible volunteer-based tax assistance program.
2) What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to ensure seniors (age 60+) have access to reliable, free federal tax return preparation and counseling, especially during the primary filing season. The program also supports the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that keeps volunteer tax assistance accurate and compliant, such as volunteer coordination, training, scheduling, quality review processes, and outreach.
3) Who runs the TCE grant program?
The program is run by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
4) What type of federal award is this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means recipients do not simply receive funds and operate independently; they are expected to work in coordination with the IRS under the terms of the cooperative agreement.
5) What law authorizes the TCE program?
The program is authorized by Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-600). This authority allows the IRS to enter into agreements with public or private nonprofit organizations to provide training and technical assistance to volunteers who deliver free tax help to older adults.
6) How is the TCE program funded?
Funding is appropriated by Congress as a dedicated line item in the IRS budget. The IRS then distributes funds to selected grant recipients to cover allowable program expenses.
7) Who is eligible to apply for this TCE funding announcement?
For this posting, eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofits with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education)
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
8) Are institutions of higher education eligible if they are nonprofits?
No. The eligibility description specifically excludes institutions of higher education, even if they otherwise fall under nonprofit status.
9) What experience or capacity is expected of applicants?
A key expectation is that applicants already have experience coordinating volunteer programs and relevant experience with income tax return preparation. The TCE model relies heavily on trained volunteers delivering standardized, compliant tax assistance in local communities.
10) What kinds of activities can grant funds support?
Recipients use funds to operate local TCE programs that provide free tax preparation and counseling for seniors. Program activities described in the posting include:
- Recruiting and organizing volunteers
- Scheduling and staffing tax assistance sites
- Coordinating training and technical support
- Maintaining quality review processes
- Providing taxpayer assistance appointments
- Ensuring proper use of IRS tools and procedures
- Conducting outreach so eligible seniors know how to access services
11) When are services typically delivered?
Direct service delivery is typically focused between January 1 and April 15, which aligns with the standard federal tax filing period.
12) Can TCE program work occur outside the January-to-April filing season?
Yes. The announcement states that program activities can occur year-round when needed to ensure quality and efficiency. This aligns with operational needs such as recruiting volunteers, training, planning site logistics, and maintaining program readiness.
13) Does this opportunity require cost-sharing or a matching contribution?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the posting. Applicants are not required to contribute a formal non-federal match as a condition of receiving funds. The posting notes that organizations often still leverage in-kind support and volunteers to deliver services effectively.
14) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is TCE 2016-001.
15) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 21.006 (Tax Counseling for the Elderly).
16) How many awards and how much total funding were anticipated?
In this specific announcement, the IRS anticipated making about 40 awards with an estimated total funding level of $6.1 million.
17) When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
Key dates in the posting were:
- Posted (made available): May 1, 2015
- Application closing date: June 1, 2015
- Archive date: July 1, 2015
18) Is there guidance referenced for the 2016 program year?
Yes. The posting referenced "Publication 1101" for the 2016 program year, which is commonly used to outline program rules, administrative expectations, and operating guidance for TCE grantees.
19) What is the target population served by TCE-funded programs?
The funded services are intended for people age 60 and older, with an emphasis on ensuring seniors can access free, reliable help understanding and filing federal income tax returns.
20) How can someone request help or more information if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The notice provided a point of contact at the Grant Program Office, including a phone number (404-338-7894) and an email contact field for the TCE Grant Office.
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