Join us for the August SPEC Partner and Employee Zoom Session, featuring Gary Iskowitz, whose distinguished career reflects decades of service and leadership in tax administration, education, and volunteerism. Gary has had an extraordinary career with the IRS, taught at several universities, founded the California State University, Northridge VITA program in 1970, and served on both the Commissioner’s Advisory Group and the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. He also hosted a weekly tax segment on ABC Los Angeles’ Eyewitness News. His longstanding commitment to taxpayer service and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program continues to inspire volunteers and partners across the nation. The session will include a panel discussion with Mr. Iskowitz and representatives from the High School, College and University (HSCU) Team, Outreach Team, and Volunteer Recruitment Team, who will share insights, experiences, and best practices for strengthening volunteer recruitment and partner engagement.

Watch the recording HERE.

The SPEC Virtual Partner Recognition Ceremony celebrates the outstanding contributions of our community partners whose dedication and collaboration help expand access to free tax preparation services and financial education. This ceremony recognizes the invaluable role our partners play in advancing the SPEC mission and serving taxpayers across the nation.

Watch the recorded ceremony HERE.

The SPEC Military Recognition Ceremony honors the service and commitment of our military partners, volunteers, and organizations that support military members, veterans, and their families through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This ceremony recognizes their continued dedication to ensuring our military communities have access to quality tax preparation services and resources.

To view the recording, please CLICK HERE.

To watch the recording, please CLICK HERE. Closed captioning is available in this recording.

2026 Filing Season Updates Recording available HERE.

In order to increase awareness and provide information to SPEC partners, on Tuesday, May 5th, IRS SPEC hosted their monthly Employee and Partner Joint Webinar Session. The session was recorded and we want to make sure it is available for our partners and volunteers who were unable to join. All partners and volunteers are invited to view recording. If there are any questions or concern, please reach out to your Relationship Manager and SPEC will address your concerns and provide answers to your questions. Note: There were some technical difficulties during this session, we truly apologize for the inconvenience.

Recording available HERE.

Recording of Grant Application Overview for VITA and TCE Program – CLICK HERE

The Grant Program Office is pleased to share the recording of our 2027 Grant Application Overview for the VITA and TCE Program webinar. This session provides a comprehensive walkthrough of the FY2027 application process, including key updates, eligibility requirements, and instructions for submitting a complete grant application.

Whether you are a past grant recipient or first-time applicant, we encourage you to review the recording at your convenience.

To learn more about the VITA and TCE Grants, please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity for both Grants below:

• VITA Grant: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p6086.pdf
• TCE Grant: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p6085.pdf

In addition, we will be hosting a live FY2027 Application Q&A Session on April 29^th. This is an opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on application types, components, and requirements.

Q&A Session Details:

Date: Wednesday – April 29^th, 2026
Time: 12:00-1:00pm Eastern Time
Zoom Link: https://irs.zoomgov.com/j/1602500438?pwd=90hnarIXUXrMmvJr9SQK7bD88pt5mn.1

Meeting ID: 160 250 0438
Passcode: fmgL4*v%

Registration: Not Required

We hope you will take advantage of both the recorded overview and the live Q&A session. If you have questions about the recording or Q&A Session, please don’t hesitate to reach out the Grant Program Office at [email protected].

Recording of SPEC Joint Partner and Employee Webcast (04.07.2026). – Click Here