Aims/priorities: The funding is intended to support customers back into mainstream HMRC channels by building their capability and confidence and resolving issues which may have become a barrier to direct engagement with HMRC. These may include, for example, HMRC debts and outstanding tax obligations.
The funding is for organisations who can provide tax and related support services to unrepresented HMRC customers who need extra help, including but not limited to customers with:
- Reduced mobility or physical disabilities
- Sensory disabilities, including visual and hearing impairments
- Low digital capability or confidence or limited access to digital devices
- HMRC envisages are likely to need the most support, such as those impacted by Making Tax Digital (MTD) ITSA, small businesses, and pensioners impacted by fiscal drag
- Experiencing age-related difficulties
- Neurodiverse customers, such as customers with dyslexia, autism, ADHD or cognitive difficulties
- Mental health conditions, including depression, stress and anxiety
- Language barriers
- Extreme distress through life events such as bereavement, breakdown of a relationship, or safeguarding concerns, including domestic or economic abuse
- Otherwise would not engage with HMRC, or who HMRC finds hardest to reach, such as prisoners and those on probation.
Who can apply? Applications are accepted from public sector and non-profit organisations who are one of the following:
- Registered charities
- Voluntary and community sector organisations
- Social enterprises
- Mutuals
- Co-operatives.
To be eligible, applicants must have:
- Three years' financial history in place
- A turnover of no less than £80,000 per year
- Sound and comprehensive financial systems and processes that enable them to track the amount of funding spent throughout the year and to demonstrate that they have allocated the funding to the specific activity detailed in their bid.
Applicants must be able to:
- Identify customers who have HMRC-related issues and be competent in supporting with HMRC services.
- Demonstrate how they will reach customers and what evidence of demand there is for the service in their communities.
- Provide the required performance data and information to HMRC throughout the programme.
- Identify and source suitable customers and staff to assist HMRC with research requests.
- Ensure a representative attends and participates in the quarterly Individual Stakeholder Forum (ISF), which is HMRC's main consultation forum to give a voice to the VCS and other organisations representing individual customers.
Grant amount: There is a total of £11 million in funding (£3.7 million per year) for a three-year period (April 2027 to March 2030).
Grants of between £40,000 and £1 million per year, with a maximum threshold set at 50% of the organisation's turnover (last audited accounts) are available.
The funding programme is to commence 1 April 2027.
Application process: HMRC's grant funding team will be hosting live Q&A Sessions with interested applicants on 11 June and 17 June 2026.
Applications are to be made via the Government's 'Find a Grant' system.
Deadline: Friday, 3 July 2026 (23:59).
Contact information: Email: voluntaryandcommunitysectorgrantfunding@hmrc.gov.uk
Website: HMRC Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Grant Funding 2027 to 30 - GOV-UK Find a grant