03-13277. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program Availability of Application Packages

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This document provides notice of the availability of Application Packages for the 2004 Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program.

DATES:

Application Packages are available from the IRS at this time. The deadline for submitting an application package to the IRS for the 2004 Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program is August 1, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Application Packages may be requested by contacting: Internal Revenue Service, 5000 Ellin Road, Lanham, MD, 20706, Attention: Program Manager, Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program, W:CAR:SPEC:FO:GA, Building C-7, Room 185. Applications can also be submitted electronically through the IRS E-grants System by logging on to www.egrants.irs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mrs. Lynn Tyler, W:CAR:SPEC:FO:GA, Building C-7, Room 185, Internal Revenue Service, 5000 Ellin Road, Lanham, MD 20706. The non-toll-free telephone number is [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program is contained in Section 163 of the Revenue Act of 1978, Public Law 95-600, (92 Stat. 12810), November 6, 1978. Regulations were published in the Federal Register at 44 FR 72113 on December 13, 1979. Section 163 gives the IRS authority to enter into cooperative agreements with private or public non-profit agencies or organizations to establish a network of trained volunteers to provide free tax information and return preparation assistance to elderly individuals. Elderly individuals are defined as individuals age 60 and over at the close of their taxable year.

Cooperative agreements will be entered into based upon competition among eligible agencies and organizations. Because applications are being solicited before the FY 2004 budget has been approved, cooperative agreements will be entered into subject to appropriation of funds. Once funded, sponsoring agencies and organizations will receive a grant from the IRS for administrative expenses and to reimburse volunteers for expenses incurred in training and in providing tax return assistance. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program is referenced in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance in §21.006.

Dated: May 8, 2003.

Dianna L. Gunter,

Chief, Oversight and Analysis.