Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- TCE-2026
- Agency
-
Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
- Applications due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program is a federal grant opportunity offered by the Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The program provides grants to private or public nonprofit agencies, including 501(c)(3) organizations and federally recognized tribal governments, to establish a network of trained volunteers who can offer free federal income tax preparation assistance to individuals aged 60 and older. Eligible applicants must have experience in coordinating volunteer programs and providing income tax return preparation services. The evaluation criteria for the grant requires applicants to score at least 70 out of 100 points across factors such as site experience, target audience focus, financial operations, and volunteer training plans. The application period is open from May 1 to May 31, 2025, with award notifications expected by October 1, 2025.
The IRS anticipates awarding approximately $12 million through 50-60 cooperative agreements under this grant program. Individual award amounts will vary based on an organization's proposed reach and expected tax return preparation volume. The grants will support tax assistance activities conducted from January 1 to April 15 each year, although program-related work may occur year-round. The performance period for the grants is 12 months, from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
Synopsis
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers FREE tax help to individuals who are age 60 or older. Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978, Public Law No. 95-600, 92 Stat. 2810, November 6, 1978, authorizes this cooperative agreement. The Act authorizes the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to enter into agreements with private or public nonprofit agencies and organizations, which will provide training and technical assistance to volunteers who provide FREE tax counseling and assistance to elderly individuals in the preparation of their federal income tax returns.
This Act authorizes an appropriation of special funds, in the form of grants, to provide tax assistance to persons age 60 years of age or older. The IRS receives the funds as a line item in the appropriation. The total funds are distributed to the grant recipients for their expenses.
Eligible agencies and organizations compete for acceptance as a TCE grant recipient in compliance with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Public Law No. 95-224, 92 Stat. 3, February 3, 1978, codified at 31 USC Chapter 63. Applicants must be experienced in coordinating volunteer programs, with experience in income tax return preparation. Eligible agencies and organizations receive grants to conduct local TCE Programs. Tax return preparation assistance is provided to elderly taxpayers during the usual period for filing federal income tax returns, which is from January 1 to April 15 each year. However, the program activities required to ensure that elderly taxpayers receive efficient and quality tax assistance can be conducted year-round.
The application period for the program is May 1 through May 31 for organizations to submit their applications in grants.gov. Review and ranking occurs from June 1 through September 30 with notification of awards October 1.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| P6085--2025-05-00.pdf |
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