During 2012 to 2013, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) made £2 million available to voluntary and community sector (VCS) bodies to provide help and advice to customers who need support to meet their obligations and claim entitlements.

More than 3,500 volunteers were trained by the organisations to answer people’s questions on tax credits, benefits and tax issues. As a result, HMRC customers also took up an additional £29.9 million of credits and benefits.

Exchequer Secretary David Gauke said:

These results show that HMRC’s grants to the voluntary sector continue to provide a cost-effective way of ensuring that vulnerable people on low incomes get the help they need with their tax affairs from an independent, trusted source.

The results of the HMRC Third Sector Grant Funding Programme for 2012 to 2013 can be found on the HMRC website.