The volunteer income tax assistance (vita) grant was established as a matching grant program to provide funding for organizations who support community volunteer income tax assistance

The Internal Revenue Service awarded Simplifyct Inc. $450,000 under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) on October 1, 2025.

Simplifyct delivers free tax return preparation and electronic filing services to low-to-moderate-income and underserved populations in Connecticut. The recipient must ensure that at least 90% of prepared returns serve individuals whose earned income does not exceed Earned Income Tax Credit thresholds, file all eligible returns electronically, achieve 100% of annual return production goals, and demonstrate incremental improvements in return preparation accuracy and efficiency. Target beneficiaries include persons with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, Native Americans, rural residents, military members and their families, and elderly taxpayers.

The award runs through September 30, 2026, and is structured as a matching grant requiring Simplifyct to provide non-federal matching funds equal to the federal obligation amount. Simplifyct operates as a prime grant recipient with no sub-recipients recorded under this award. The organization's entire federal funding portfolio consists of VITA grants from the IRS, with five consecutive annual awards from fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

Activities

The vita grant program provides financial support to organizations who 1) extend services to underserved populations in hardest to reach areas both urban and non-urban; 2) increase the capacity to file returns electronically; 3) heighten quality control; 4) enhance training of volunteers; and 5) significantly improve the accuracy rate of returns prepared at vita sites. End goal/expected outcomes: vita grant recipients are expected to 1) follow existing guidance governing vita site operations; 2) ensure at least 90% of returns prepared are for individuals whose income is equal to or less than the maximum earned income tax credit (eitc) thresholds; 2) file all eligible returns electronically; 3) achieve 100% of their return production goals; 4) become more efficient with grant funds; and 5) show incremental increases in return preparation each year.

Intended beneficiaries

Taxpayers who are low to moderate income individuals, persons with disabilities, those for whom english is a second language, native americans, individuals living in rural areas, members of the armed forces and their families, and the elderly.

Subrecipient activities

Subrecipients may be utilized by grant recipients to help deliver key elements of the program and must adhere to grant program guidelines. Broadband: specific activities relating to broadband usage are not known at the time of award.