The Internal Revenue Service recently awarded over $36 million in Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grants to organizations that provide free federal tax return preparation. This year, the IRS awarded grants to 34 TCE and 273 VITA applicants. The IRS received 354 applications requesting nearly $80 million. Programs that provide TCE and VITA services in Iowa that received grants include Washington, D.C.-based AARP, Iowa Center for Economic Success in Des Moines and Center for Siouxland in Sioux City. The IRS provides tax law training, certification and oversight to equip these organizations to prepare accurate returns. “We appreciate the continuing interest in these programs from our partners, and we greatly appreciate the TCE and VITA volunteers across the country who make a difference for so many taxpayers,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement.