Federal Grant Award Summary

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) awarded Citizen Action of New Jersey $150,000 under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. As a matching grant program, this award funds the organization's delivery of free tax return preparation services targeting low-to-moderate income individuals and underserved populations, including persons with disabilities, limited English proficient individuals, Native Americans, rural residents, military members and their families, and elderly taxpayers across New Jersey.

Under this award, Citizen Action of New Jersey will expand VITA program capacity through four primary service delivery objectives: increasing electronic return filing capabilities, enhancing volunteer training and quality control measures, improving overall return preparation accuracy, and extending services to hardest-to-reach populations in both urban and non-urban areas. The organization is required to ensure that at least 90% of returns prepared serve individuals whose earned income does not exceed Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) thresholds, achieve 100% of return production goals, file all eligible returns electronically, and demonstrate incremental increases in annual return preparation volumes. Subrecipients may be engaged to help deliver key program elements in accordance with grant program guidelines.