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 $280,000 to United Way California Capital Region on October 1, 2025, under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) to deliver free tax return preparation and filing services for low-to-moderate-income individuals and other underserved populations across California.

The recipient will extend VITA services to taxpayers whose earned income does not exceed Earned Income Tax Credit thresholds, including persons with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, Native Americans, rural residents, members of the Armed Forces and their families, and elderly taxpayers. United Way California Capital Region must ensure that at least 90 percent of returns prepared serve eligible low-to-moderate-income individuals, file all eligible returns electronically, achieve 100 percent of annual return production goals, and demonstrate incremental increases in return preparation efficiency year over year.

The award carries a matching-grant structure requiring equal non-federal matching funds. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Place of performance is California. The VITA Matching Grant Program supports organizations that extend services to underserved populations in hard-to-reach areas, increase electronic filing capacity, heighten quality control, enhance volunteer training, and improve return-preparation accuracy. Sub-recipients may be utilized to help deliver key program elements and must adhere to grant program guidelines.

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.