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 AARP Foundation $4 million on October 1, 2025, under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) to deliver free tax return preparation services to underserved populations through December 31, 2026.

AARP Foundation will extend VITA services to low- and moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, individuals for whom English is a second English language, Native Americans, rural residents, members of the Armed Forces and their families, and the elderly across the United States. The organization must ensure at least 90 percent of returns prepared serve taxpayers at or below the earned income tax credit threshold, file all eligible returns electronically, meet 100 percent of return production goals, and demonstrate year-over-year increases in return preparation volume. AARP Foundation will enhance volunteer training, heighten quality control measures, and improve return accuracy. The program operates as a matching grant; AARP Foundation must document matching funds from non-federal sources.

Sub-recipients may be utilized to deliver key program elements and must adhere to VITA program guidelines. The award obligates $4 million with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 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.