Opportunity Information: Apply for TCE 2021 001
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) grant opportunity is a federal cooperative agreement program run through the US Department of the Treasury and administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to support free tax help for people age 60 and older. The core purpose is practical and direct: fund qualified organizations so they can recruit, train, and support volunteers who provide no-cost federal income tax return preparation and counseling to older adults. While the public-facing service is the preparation of returns, the grant is designed to cover the behind-the-scenes work that makes those services reliable, accessible, and high quality, including volunteer coordination, training, and technical support.
This program is authorized by Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-600), which specifically allows the IRS to enter into agreements with public or private nonprofit organizations to deliver these services. The funding is appropriated as a dedicated line item and then distributed to grant recipients to cover allowable program expenses associated with delivering tax assistance to eligible seniors. Because it is set up as a cooperative agreement rather than a simple grant, recipients should expect an ongoing working relationship with the IRS, typically involving program oversight, adherence to IRS standards for training and return preparation, and other coordination requirements that come with federal cooperative agreements.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). A key expectation is that applicants already have proven capacity in coordinating volunteer-based programs and have relevant experience with income tax return preparation. In other words, the IRS is looking for organizations that can demonstrate they know how to manage volunteers at scale, maintain consistent service quality, and handle the seasonal surge in demand during filing season while still maintaining operational readiness throughout the year.
Program services are concentrated during the typical federal filing window, generally January 1 through April 15, when most return preparation happens. At the same time, the opportunity makes clear that work can be conducted year-round when it is necessary to ensure seniors receive efficient and quality assistance. That year-round activity often includes recruiting and retaining volunteers, scheduling and site planning, training and certification processes, coordination with community partners, public outreach to seniors, and administrative tasks tied to reporting and compliance.
In the source opportunity record, the listing identifies the opportunity as discretionary, using a cooperative agreement funding instrument, under CFDA number 21.006, with an anticipated number of awards around 100. The opportunity is identified as "Tax Counseling for the Elderly" with funding opportunity number TCE 2021 001, created May 1, 2020, and an original closing date of June 1, 2020. The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the provided data, which typically means the ceiling was not specified in that particular listing record rather than implying that awards have no value; in practice, applicants would confirm funding ranges and budgeting guidance in the full notice and accompanying IRS program instructions.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as federal support for community-based tax assistance infrastructure for older adults: it pays organizations to organize and maintain a trained volunteer workforce and deliver free, dependable tax preparation and counseling services to seniors, with most direct service occurring during filing season and preparation and quality-assurance work continuing throughout the year.Apply for TCE 2021 001
- The US Department of the Treasury, Tax Counseling for the Elderly in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tax Counseling for the Elderly" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 21.006.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 01, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Cooperative Agreement
What is the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program?
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program is a federal cooperative agreement program run through the US Department of the Treasury and administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Its purpose is to support free federal income tax return preparation and tax counseling for people age 60 and older by funding qualified organizations that recruit, train, and support volunteers.
What does the TCE funding support?
TCE funding is designed to cover allowable program expenses tied to delivering free tax assistance to eligible seniors. While the public sees the return preparation and counseling, the grant focuses heavily on the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that makes services work well, such as volunteer coordination, training, scheduling, technical support, and quality-focused program operations.
Who is the federal agency responsible for this opportunity?
The program is administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) within the US Department of the Treasury.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument rather than a standard grant. That generally means recipients should expect ongoing coordination with the IRS, including program oversight and adherence to IRS standards for training and tax return preparation.
What does it mean that the program is a cooperative agreement?
Because it is structured as a cooperative agreement, recipients should plan for an active working relationship with the IRS. The opportunity description highlights expectations such as IRS oversight, required adherence to IRS standards for training and return preparation, and other coordination requirements typical of federal cooperative agreements.
What is the core purpose of the TCE program?
The core purpose is to fund qualified organizations so they can recruit, train, and support volunteers who provide no-cost federal income tax return preparation and counseling to adults age 60 and older.
Who is eligible to receive free services supported by TCE?
The supported services are intended for people age 60 and older.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are excluded based on the information provided.
Are institutions of higher education eligible applicants?
No. The eligibility description provided excludes institutions of higher education.
What kinds of experience does the IRS expect applicants to have?
The opportunity emphasizes that applicants are expected to already have proven capacity to coordinate volunteer-based programs and have relevant experience with income tax return preparation. The IRS is looking for organizations that can manage volunteers at scale, maintain consistent service quality, and handle seasonal demand during filing season while remaining operationally ready year-round.
When do most TCE services take place?
Most direct return preparation and counseling services take place during the typical federal filing window, generally January 1 through April 15.
Can TCE-funded work happen outside of filing season?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that work can be conducted year-round when necessary to ensure efficient and high-quality service to seniors. Year-round work often includes volunteer recruitment and retention, training and certification activities, scheduling and site planning, coordination with community partners, public outreach, and administrative reporting and compliance tasks.
What types of year-round activities are commonly supported under TCE?
Examples of year-round activities described include recruiting and retaining volunteers, scheduling and site planning, training and certification processes, coordinating with community partners, outreach to seniors, and administrative work connected to reporting and compliance.
What law authorizes the TCE program?
The program is authorized by Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-600), which allows the IRS to enter into agreements with public or private nonprofit organizations to deliver these services.
How is the TCE program funded?
The funding is appropriated as a dedicated line item and distributed to grant recipients to cover allowable program expenses associated with delivering tax assistance to eligible seniors.
Is this opportunity discretionary or mandatory?
The source opportunity record identifies it as a discretionary opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 21.006.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number shown in the provided record is TCE 2021 001.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity record indicates an anticipated number of awards of around 100.
What was the timeline listed in the opportunity record?
The record notes the opportunity was created on May 1, 2020, with an original closing date of June 1, 2020.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The provided listing shows an award ceiling of 0. In the context provided, this typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in that particular listing record, rather than suggesting awards have no value. Applicants would typically confirm funding ranges and budgeting guidance in the full notice and IRS program instructions.
Does the TCE program pay for direct tax preparation services or program operations?
Based on the description provided, the program supports both: it enables free return preparation and counseling for seniors by funding the operational backbone that makes those services reliable and accessible, including recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers and maintaining service quality.
What is the overall goal of the TCE opportunity?
The overall goal is to strengthen community-based tax assistance infrastructure for older adults by paying organizations to organize and maintain a trained volunteer workforce and deliver free, dependable federal tax preparation and counseling services, primarily during filing season, with planning and quality-assurance work continuing throughout the year.
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