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Official form guide
Form 13981: Grant Agreement
Internal Revenue Service Form 13981 is a Grant Agreement that documents the terms of a VITA federal award, including the period of performance from October 1 to September 30 and the required signatures of the recipient and IRS grant officer.
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IRS Form 13981 - Grant Agreement
Internal Revenue Service Form 13981 is a Grant Agreement that documents the terms of a VITA federal award, including the period of performance from October 1 to September 30 and the required signatures of the recipient and IRS grant officer.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Submitting the Grant Agreement without the required recipient and IRS signatures.
- 2Omitting the recipient’s UEI on the Grant Agreement.
- 3Leaving the period of performance dates (October 1 to September 30) blank.
- 4Failing to provide the Federal Award Identifier Number (FAIN).
- 5Not specifying the total amount of federal funds obligated.
Plain English
Form 13981 records the agreement between the IRS and a VITA grant recipient. It lists the award amount, performance dates, and required signatures. The form also captures contact details for the grant officer. Completing it lets the IRS confirm the grant terms.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2025-06-27 22:10:10
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when you are the recipient of a VITA federal award and need to formalize the grant agreement with the IRS.
- Do not use it when you are not receiving a VITA grant or the award is administered by another agency.
- Check Form 13981 instead when a revised grant agreement is required.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Applying for a new VITA grant
Establishes terms, funding, and performance period for the award
✓ Confirm grant award details are correct
Renewing a multi‑year VITA grant
Renewal requires updated agreement and signatures per the multi‑year criteria
✓ Verify organization meets multi‑year grant criteria
Modifying award amount during performance period
Changes must be in writing and signed by the IRS before additional reimbursement
✓ Ensure written amendment is attached
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Recipient name
Legal name of the organization · Form field
Recipient address
Physical mailing address of the organization · Form field
UEI
Unique Entity Identifier assigned by the federal government · Form field
Federal Award Identifier Number (FAIN)
Award identification number from IRS · Form field
Period of performance
Dates October 1 to September 30 · Form field
Before you submit
- 1Verify the period of performance is entered as October 1 to September 30
- 2Confirm the Federal Award Identifier Number (FAIN) is filled in
- 3Check that the total amount of federal funds obligated is entered
- 4Ensure the total cost sharing or match required is listed
- 5Validate the indirect cost rate is provided
- 6Confirm the recipient’s signature line includes name, title, and date
- 7Confirm the IRS grant officer’s signature line includes name, title, and date
How to file this form
- 1Complete all required fields on Form 13981
- 2Obtain the authorized recipient’s printed name, title, signature, and date
- 3Obtain the IRS grant officer’s printed name, title, signature, and date
- 4Review the completed agreement for accuracy against the grant award documents
- 5Mail the signed Form 13981 to the IRS address provided in the grant package
- 6Retain a copy of the signed Form 13981 for your records
Known limitations
- 1Expenses incurred before the period of performance are not covered — [Form p.1].
- 2Expenses incurred after the period of performance are not covered — [Form p.1].
- 3No additional expense reimbursements are made unless the total award amount is increased in writing — [Form p.1].
- 4Funding may be increased or decreased depending on Congressional appropriation and program performance — [Form p.1].
- 5The agreement applies only to organizations that are approved multi-year VITA grant recipients — [Form p.1].
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
General Info
2 items
Full legal name and taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN).
Current mailing address.
Details
2 items
Complete all applicable sections of this form according to the official IRS instructions.
Enter the relevant dollar amount if this form involves tax calculation.
Certification
1 items
Read and acknowledge any certifications required by this form.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date. Unsigned forms cannot be processed.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->Form 13981 is revised June 2025 (Rev. 6-2025). The source does not indicate a separate latest‑information page.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads 6-2025
- Fee — Not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source
- Signature — confirm required signatures of the authorized recipient and the IRS grant officer are present
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Retain the signed original Grant Agreement for organizational records.
- 2Store a copy of the agreement for at least three years after the grant period ends.
- 3Verify that both the recipient and IRS grant officer signatures and dates are present before submission.
- 4Keep the OMB Control Number 1545-2222 on file for reference — [Form p.2].
Sources
- SRCForm revision date is Rev. 6-2025 — [Form p.1].
- SRCPeriod of performance is October 1 to September 30 — [Form p.1].
- SRCOrganization must be an approved multi-year grant recipient — [Form p.1].
- SRCGrant may be renewed in year two or three if criteria are met — [Form p.1].
- SRCFunding may increase or decrease based on Congressional appropriation and performance — [Form p.1].
- SRCNo expense reimbursements unless total award increased in writing — [Form p.1].
- SRCOMB Control Number is 1545-2222 — [Form p.2].
- SRCEstimated participation time is 30 minutes — [Form p.2].
- SRCResponse to information request is voluntary — [Form p.2].
- SRCSignatures of recipient and IRS grant officer are required — [Form p.1].
Common confusion points
What dates define the grant period?
The form lists 'Period of performance October 1, to September 30' which may be misread as a single year.
→ Confirm the period reads October 1 to September 30 as shown on page 1.
Can we claim expenses that occurred before the grant start?
The form states expenses before the period are not covered, but some think they are allowable.
→ Check that all expenses fall within the October 1 – September 30 window.
Is the grant amount fixed for the entire multi-year period?
Funding may change based on Congressional appropriation, leading to confusion.
→ Verify any changes are documented in writing by the IRS.
Do we need IRS approval for additional reimbursements?
The form says no additional reimbursements unless the award amount is increased in writing.
→ Ensure any increase is recorded in a written amendment before incurring costs.
Is my organization required to be a multi-year grant recipient to use this form?
The form mentions 'approved multi-year grant recipient' which may be unclear.
→ Confirm your organization has multi-year approval before signing.
Is providing the requested information mandatory?
Privacy notice says response is voluntary, yet some assume it’s required for participation.
→ Understand that while voluntary, lack of info may limit IRS use of your assistance.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 843 – Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement, filed to request correction of IRS errors related to the grant.
Questions about IRS Form 13981
What is IRS Form 13981 used for?
Form 13981 records the agreement between the IRS and a VITA grant recipient. It lists the award amount, performance dates, and required signatures. The form also captures contact details for the grant officer. Completing it lets the IRS confirm the grant terms.
Who must file IRS Form 13981?
The recipient of the IRS VITA grant must file Form 13981.
What information does IRS Form 13981 require?
Form 13981 collects the recipient’s name, address, UEI, indirect cost rate, budget approval, minimum federal returns, Federal Award Identifier Number, award date, period of performance, obligated funds, cost‑sharing amounts, CFDA number, program source, project description, and the IRS grant officer’s contact information.
How do I complete IRS Form 13981?
First, the recipient fills in all required fields such as name, address, UEI, award details, and period of performance. Next, the recipient’s authorized representative signs and dates the agreement. Then the IRS grant officer’s name, address, and email are entered, and the IRS representative signs and dates. Finally, the completed form is retained for records and submitted as instructed.
What happens if IRS Form 13981 is filed incorrectly?
If the form is incomplete or inaccurate, the IRS may not be able to use your assistance in its volunteer income tax preparation and outreach programs.
What dates define the grant period?
The form lists 'Period of performance October 1, to September 30' which may be misread as a single year. Confirm the period reads October 1 to September 30 as shown on page 1.
Can we claim expenses that occurred before the grant start?
The form states expenses before the period are not covered, but some think they are allowable. Check that all expenses fall within the October 1 – September 30 window.
Is the grant amount fixed for the entire multi-year period?
Funding may change based on Congressional appropriation, leading to confusion. Verify any changes are documented in writing by the IRS.
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