Tax Counseling for the Elderly
The U.S. government features quite a few small business grants through a number of its departments. One such grant offers funding for nonprofit organizations to offer counseling to senior citizens to help with completing their yearly tax returns.
The Internal Revenue Service has designated $5.1 Million for the 2011 Fiscal Year to support the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (T.C.E.) Program
The Internal Revenue Service, which functions within the Treasury Department is approved to enter into contracts with private or non-governmental public nonprofit 501c(3)’s that will give coaching and technical guidance to volunteers that deliver free of charge tax counseling and aid to senior citizens that are age 60 or older for the completion of their U.S. tax returns.
Grant funding may be applied to pay volunteers for incidental expenses such as travel, meals as well as other expenditures incurred by them in offering tax guidance help at places convenient for the older persons.
Through a competitive approach, suitable candidate groups and agencies vie for approval to be a Tax Counseling for the Elderly sponsor. These organizations must be a nonprofit organization expert in managing volunteer programs, together with familiarity with the tax submission process.
Competent organizations may obtain funds to offer regional Counseling Programs. Tax return submission help is provided to senior-citizens through the entire customary Federal Tax filing period, which is from the 1st of January to the 15th of April each year. In addition the advising activities required to make sure that senior taxpayers get useful tax help of the best quality may be performed throughout the year.
The Cooperative Agreement between the IRS and the not for profit organization defines the functions that the program sponsor and Internal Revenue Service will execute, the geographical region involved, the maximum amount of funding offered for reimbursement and administrative purposes as well as other data.
Beginning with the 2011 T.C.E. Plan, multi-year funding opportunities are available for nonprofit organizations that are qualified and match the needed criteria.
Groups submitting an application can elect, should they be interested in being considered for a multi-year Tax Counseling for the Elderly grant. Consideration is limited to those candidates that satisfy all eligibility standards.
Approval by the Internal Revenue Service of an organization for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program for one year will not necessarily mean that the group is going to be approved into the T.C.E. program in following years.
A not for profit group that is approved to offer Tax Counseling for the Elderly services is responsible for all aspects of running a T.C.E. Program which includes, but not restricted to marketing the program, volunteer recruitment and instruction, Website design and construction and outreach to seniors in their region.
To find additional information on Tax Counseling for the Elderly and other Government Grants and in particular grants for non profits visit the Top Government Grants Website.