Opportunity Information: Apply for VITA 2017
Apply for VITA 2017
- The USDOT-IRS-VITA in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "VITA" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 21.009.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2016 and posted on Apr 28, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 240 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The VITA grant opportunity is a discretionary federal grant program run through the IRS, specifically the Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) organization. Its purpose is to strengthen and expand the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program by providing funding to partner organizations that deliver free federal tax return preparation services. In practical terms, the grant is meant to help existing VITA operators grow their reach and improve how effectively they serve taxpayers who would otherwise face barriers to receiving reliable tax help.
A central focus of the opportunity is expanding services to underserved populations in the hardest-to-reach communities, including both urban and non-urban areas. The program is designed to support outreach and service delivery strategies that bring free tax preparation to people who may have limited access to commercial preparers, transportation challenges, language barriers, limited digital access, or other obstacles that reduce their ability to file accurately and on time. By funding local partners, the IRS aims to widen the footprint of VITA services and ensure more eligible taxpayers can use them.
The grant also prioritizes operational improvements that directly affect filing outcomes. A key objective is increasing the capacity to file returns electronically, which typically speeds up processing and can reduce certain types of errors compared to paper filing. Alongside e-filing capacity, the opportunity emphasizes strengthening quality control processes at VITA sites, improving volunteer training, and significantly boosting the accuracy rate of returns prepared. These priorities reflect the IRS interest in not just expanding volume, but also ensuring that returns are prepared correctly, consistently, and in compliance with program standards.
Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations that commonly serve as community anchors for volunteer-based services. This includes state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The program is structured to fund organizations that either already operate VITA sites or have the capacity to scale VITA efforts through partnerships, volunteer recruitment, training systems, and community-based service delivery.
From the posted opportunity details, the funding opportunity title is "VITA" and the funding opportunity number is "VITA 2017." The assistance listing is CFDA 21.009, and the instrument type is a grant under the discretionary category. The opportunity was posted on April 28, 2016, with an application closing date of June 1, 2016. The listing indicates an expectation of about 240 awards. The award ceiling field is not specified in the provided data, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full announcement for any maximum award amount or funding ranges.
Overall, the VITA grant opportunity is aimed at helping partner organizations expand free tax preparation services while improving the systems that drive accuracy and accountability: better-trained volunteers, stronger quality review, and greater use of electronic filing. It is positioned as a supplement to ongoing VITA work, meaning it is intended to enhance and scale existing efforts rather than replace them, with an emphasis on reaching underserved taxpayers and improving return preparation outcomes at VITA sites.
VITA Grant (VITA 2017) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VITA grant opportunity?
The VITA grant opportunity is a discretionary federal grant program run through the IRS, specifically within the Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) organization. It provides funding to partner organizations that deliver free federal tax return preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
What is the main purpose of the VITA grant?
The purpose of the grant is to strengthen and expand the VITA Program by helping partner organizations grow their reach and improve how effectively they serve taxpayers who face barriers to receiving reliable tax help.
Who administers this grant program within the IRS?
The program is administered through the IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) organization.
What types of services does the grant support?
The grant supports free federal tax return preparation services delivered by partner organizations through VITA. It is intended to expand service delivery and improve operational effectiveness at VITA sites.
Who is the program intended to help (target populations)?
A central focus is expanding services to underserved populations in hardest-to-reach communities, including both urban and non-urban areas, especially where taxpayers face barriers such as limited access to commercial preparers, transportation challenges, language barriers, limited digital access, or other obstacles that affect filing accurately and on time.
What kinds of communities are prioritized for expansion?
The opportunity emphasizes the hardest-to-reach communities, including urban and non-urban areas, with an explicit focus on underserved populations.
What outcomes is the IRS trying to improve with this funding?
In addition to expanding service volume, the IRS is prioritizing improvements in filing outcomes, including increased electronic filing capacity, stronger quality control processes at VITA sites, improved volunteer training, and a significantly higher accuracy rate for returns prepared.
Why is electronic filing (e-filing) emphasized?
Increasing the capacity to file returns electronically is a stated objective. The opportunity notes that e-filing typically speeds up processing and can reduce certain types of errors compared to paper filing.
How does the grant address return accuracy and compliance?
The grant prioritizes strengthening quality control processes, improving volunteer training, and boosting the accuracy rate of returns. These priorities reflect an IRS interest in returns being prepared correctly, consistently, and in compliance with VITA program standards.
Is the funding intended to replace existing VITA operations?
No. The opportunity is positioned as a supplement to ongoing VITA work. It is intended to enhance and scale existing efforts rather than replace them.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include: state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible applicants (other than institutions of higher education).
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included in the list of eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
Are state and local governments eligible?
Yes. State, county, and city or township governments are included as eligible applicants.
Do applicants need to already operate VITA sites?
The opportunity is structured to fund organizations that either already operate VITA sites or have the capacity to scale VITA efforts through partnerships, volunteer recruitment, training systems, and community-based service delivery.
What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The funding opportunity title is "VITA" and the funding opportunity number is "VITA 2017."
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number?
The assistance listing provided is CFDA 21.009.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The instrument type is a grant, and it is identified as discretionary.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted on April 28, 2016, and the application closing date was June 1, 2016.
How many awards were expected?
The listing indicates an expectation of about 240 awards.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling field is not specified in the provided data. Applicants would need to consult the full announcement for any maximum award amount or funding ranges.
What kinds of strategies does the grant encourage for reaching underserved taxpayers?
It supports outreach and service delivery strategies that bring free tax preparation to people with access barriers, including communities where transportation, language, limited digital access, or lack of local commercial preparers can make filing difficult.
What operational improvements are explicitly prioritized?
Priorities include: increasing e-filing capacity, strengthening quality control at VITA sites, improving volunteer training, and significantly improving the accuracy rate of returns prepared.
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