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 the United Way of the Bay Area $825,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program (CFDA 21.009) to deliver free tax return preparation and electronic filing services for low- to moderate-income individuals and underserved populations in California.

The award funds United Way of the Bay Area to extend VITA services to taxpayers earning at or below Earned Income Tax Credit thresholds, including persons with disabilities, non-English speakers, Native Americans, rural residents, military members and families, and elderly taxpayers. The recipient must ensure at least 90 percent of returns prepared serve eligible populations, file all returns electronically, achieve annual return production goals, and demonstrate incremental year-over-year increases in return preparation. The organization must also enhance volunteer training, heighten quality control, and improve return accuracy rates.

The award period runs through September 30, 2026. As a matching grant, United Way of the Bay Area must provide non-federal matching funds equal to the federal award amount and maintain GAAP-compliant records for a minimum of three years following final report submission. The recipient may engage subrecipients to deliver key program elements while adhering 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.