Opportunity Information: Apply for TCE 2018 001
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant opportunity supports a long-running IRS program that provides free federal income tax return preparation and related tax counseling to people age 60 and older. The program 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 qualifying organizations to deliver this service through trained volunteers. In practical terms, the funding is meant to cover the costs organizations incur while recruiting, organizing, training, and supporting volunteers who help older adults prepare and file their federal tax returns at no charge.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement (rather than a simple pass-through grant), meaning the IRS is not only providing funds but is also positioned to have an active partnership role through program rules, oversight, and technical guidance. The IRS receives a specific line-item appropriation for the TCE program and then distributes those funds to selected recipients to reimburse allowable program expenses tied to delivering local TCE services. The program emphasizes both access and quality: recipients are expected to set up operations that provide efficient, accurate assistance, and to ensure volunteers are prepared to meet federal tax preparation standards.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). A key requirement is demonstrated experience coordinating volunteer-based programs, along with experience in income tax return preparation. This reflects how the TCE model typically works on the ground: organizations build and manage a volunteer workforce, arrange training and certification activities, schedule tax preparation sites or events, and provide ongoing support so volunteers can handle common tax situations faced by older taxpayers. Because the service is delivered by volunteers, the organizational capacity to recruit, train, supervise, and retain volunteers is central to being competitive.
The core service window aligns with the standard federal filing season, with tax preparation assistance primarily delivered from January 1 through April 15 each year. At the same time, the opportunity explicitly allows year-round activities when they are needed to ensure strong service delivery. That can include off-season planning, volunteer recruitment, training and refresher sessions, setting up partnerships and sites, maintaining equipment and supplies, and other operational steps that help ensure older adults receive timely and high-quality assistance when the filing season begins.
From the opportunity details provided, the funding opportunity title is "Tax Counseling for the Elderly," with funding opportunity number TCE 2018 001 and CFDA number 21.006. The closing date listed in the source data is May 31, 2017, and the IRS anticipated making around 100 awards. No award ceiling is specified in the excerpt, which usually means applicants must refer to the full announcement or related guidance for typical award sizes, budget limits, match requirements (if any), and other financial conditions. Overall, the opportunity is designed to expand and strengthen local capacity to deliver free, reliable tax help to seniors by supporting organizations that can effectively run volunteer-driven tax assistance programs in coordination with IRS requirements.Apply for TCE 2018 001
- The Tax Counseling for the Elderly in the other 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-05-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-05-31. (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 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Grant
1) What is the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant opportunity?
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant opportunity supports an IRS program that provides free federal income tax return preparation and related tax counseling to people age 60 and older. Funding helps organizations operate local TCE services through trained volunteers.
2) What services does the TCE program provide to seniors?
The TCE program provides free federal income tax return preparation and related tax counseling for eligible individuals age 60 and older, delivered by trained volunteers supported by participating organizations.
3) Who is the target population for TCE services?
The program is designed to serve people age 60 and older by offering no-charge assistance with preparing and filing federal income tax returns, along with related tax counseling.
4) What is the legal authority for 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 cooperative agreements with qualifying organizations to deliver TCE services through trained volunteers.
5) Is this funding a grant or a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means the IRS provides funds and also maintains an active partnership role through program rules, oversight, and technical guidance, rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant.
6) What does it mean that the IRS has an "active partnership role"?
Based on the description provided, an active partnership role means the IRS is positioned to be involved through program rules, oversight, and technical guidance to help ensure services are delivered efficiently and accurately and that federal tax preparation standards are met.
7) What does the TCE funding pay for?
The funding is intended to reimburse allowable program expenses tied to delivering local TCE services. Specifically, it is meant to cover costs organizations incur while recruiting, organizing, training, and supporting volunteers who assist older adults with federal tax return preparation at no charge.
8) Does the program rely on volunteers?
Yes. The TCE model described is volunteer-driven. Organizations are expected to build and manage a volunteer workforce and provide the training, scheduling, and ongoing support needed for volunteers to deliver tax assistance.
9) What are applicants expected to do with the funding operationally?
Recipients are expected to set up operations that provide efficient, accurate assistance and ensure volunteers are prepared to meet federal tax preparation standards. Typical activities include recruiting volunteers, organizing training and certification activities, scheduling tax preparation sites or events, and providing ongoing volunteer support.
10) Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are excluded.
11) Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility description specifically excludes institutions of higher education, even if they are otherwise nonprofit.
12) What experience is required or emphasized for applicants?
A key requirement is demonstrated experience coordinating volunteer-based programs, along with experience in income tax return preparation. Because the service is delivered by volunteers, capacity to recruit, train, supervise, and retain volunteers is central to competitiveness.
13) Why is volunteer program management experience so important for TCE?
The opportunity is designed around a volunteer delivery model. Competitive applicants are expected to show they can recruit, train, supervise, and retain volunteers and support them throughout the filing season so services are timely and accurate.
14) When are TCE tax preparation services typically delivered?
The core service window aligns with the standard federal filing season. Tax preparation assistance is primarily delivered from January 1 through April 15 each year.
15) Are activities allowed outside the main tax season?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly allows year-round activities when needed to ensure strong service delivery. Examples mentioned include off-season planning, volunteer recruitment, training and refresher sessions, setting up partnerships and sites, and maintaining equipment and supplies.
16) How is the TCE program funded and distributed?
The IRS receives a specific line-item appropriation for the TCE program and distributes funds to selected recipients to reimburse allowable program expenses related to providing local TCE services.
17) What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The funding opportunity title is "Tax Counseling for the Elderly." The funding opportunity number is TCE 2018 001.
18) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 21.006.
19) What was the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The closing date shown in the provided information is May 31, 2017.
20) How many awards did the IRS anticipate making?
The IRS anticipated making around 100 awards, based on the details provided.
21) Is there an award ceiling (maximum award amount) listed?
No award ceiling is specified in the excerpt provided. This often means applicants need to consult the full announcement or related guidance for typical award sizes, any budget limits, match requirements (if any), and other financial conditions.
22) Does the excerpt mention any matching requirement?
No. The excerpt does not state whether a match is required. It notes that applicants may need to refer to the full announcement or related guidance for match requirements (if any) and other financial conditions.
23) What are the program's main priorities or focus areas?
The program emphasizes both access and quality. Recipients are expected to deliver efficient, accurate assistance and ensure volunteers are prepared to meet federal tax preparation standards, expanding and strengthening local capacity to provide free, reliable tax help to seniors.
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