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 Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service awarded $149,107 to North Texas Area United Way Inc. under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) on October 1, 2025.

United Way will deliver free tax return preparation and electronic filing services to underserved populations including persons with disabilities, limited English proficient individuals, Native Americans, rural residents, military members and their families, and elderly taxpayers in Texas. At least 90 percent of returns prepared must serve individuals whose earned income does not exceed the Earned Income Tax Credit threshold. The organization may utilize subrecipients to deliver program elements while maintaining compliance with VITA guidelines.

The award runs through September 30, 2026, and requires United Way to provide matching funds of equivalent value. The VITA grant is a matching grant program designed to support organizations that extend services to hardest-to-reach areas, increase capacity for electronic filing, heighten quality control, enhance volunteer training, and improve return preparation accuracy. Recipients are expected to file all eligible returns electronically, achieve 100 percent of their return production goals, and demonstrate incremental increases in return preparation annually.

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.