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 Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. $295,000 under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) on October 1, 2025, for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, with place of performance in Ohio.

The award funds free tax return preparation and filing services for underserved populations, including low- to moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, Native Americans, rural residents, members of the Armed Forces and their families, and the elderly. Enterprise must ensure at least 90 percent of returns prepared serve individuals whose income does not exceed the earned income tax credit thresholds, file all eligible returns electronically, achieve 100 percent of return production goals, and demonstrate incremental increases in return preparation year over year. The program also supports capacity building in volunteer training and quality control at VITA sites.

The VITA program is a matching grant that provides financial support to organizations extending services to underserved populations in both urban and non-urban areas, increasing electronic filing capacity, heightening quality control, enhancing volunteer training, and improving return accuracy. Sub-recipients may be utilized to help deliver key program elements and must adhere to grant program guidelines. Enterprise may pass through funding to sub-recipients as part of overall program delivery.

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.