Government Grants for Tax Counseling
The U.S. government features various grants and cooperative agreements from a number of its agencies. One such grant provides money for nonprofit groups to offer counseling to elderly people to aid with completing their own yearly tax returns.
The IRS has allocated $5.1 Million for the 2011 Fiscal Year to support the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (T.C.E.) Program
The Internal Revenue Service, which operates inside the Treasury Department is authorized to initiate agreements with private or non-governmental nonprofit 501c(3)’s which deliver coaching and practical advice to volunteers that offer free of charge tax guidance and aid to older persons who are age 60 or older for the completion of their U.S. tax returns.
Grant funding can be used to pay volunteers for incidental expenses such as transportation, meals and other expenses incurred by them in providing tax counseling help at spots convenient for the senior citizens.
Through a competitive procedure, suitable applicant groups and agencies vie for endorsement to become a T.C.E. sponsor. These organizations have to be a nonprofit business experienced in managing volunteer programs, with familiarity with the income tax completion process.
Competent groups may acquire funds to offer regional Counseling Programs. Tax return submission help is provided to senior-citizens throughout the traditional Federal Tax filing timeframe, which is from the 1st of January through the 15th of April each year. On top of that the guidance activities needed to make certain senior taxpayers receive useful tax help of the highest quality may be conducted throughout the year.
The Cooperative Agreement between the IRS and the nonprofit group defines the tasks that the program sponsor and IRS will perform, the geographical region involved, the maximum amount of financing provided for reimbursement and administrative purposes as well as other data.
Commencing with the 2011 T.C.E. Plan, multi-year funding opportunities are available for nonprofit organizations which are qualified and satisfy the needed criteria.
Organizations submitting an application can elect, if they are thinking about being considered for a multi-year Tax Counseling for the Elderly grant. Consideration is restricted to those applicants that meet all eligibility requirements.
Approval by the Internal Revenue Service of an organization to the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program for one year will not necessarily mean that the group will be accepted into the T.C.E. program in following years.
A not for profit organization which is approved to provide Tax Counseling for the Elderly services is responsible for all aspects of operating a T.C.E. System which includes, but not limited to marketing the program, volunteer recruitment and training, Web page design and construction and outreach to seniors inside their region.
For more information on Tax Counseling for the Elderly and other Government Grants and in particular grants for non profits visit the Top Government Grants Website.
