Training & Testing Resources

Pre Training for new volunteers and Client Navigators (optional for everyone else)

Introduction to Tax Law Webinar series.
Created by our partners at CASH MD, these videos introduce you to the fundamental concepts of tax law. It's important that you start here if you do not have prior tax knowledge.

01 Tax Fundamentals and Additional Topics 

• Finish Pre-training in preparation for this class (See above)

• Practice Scenario: Ben Nolan 

• slides: Fundamentals and Additional Topics

• Ben Nolan completed Tax return

02 Applied Skills and Tax Slayer Return Prep 

• Applied Skills Slides

• Patty Rivera Practice Scenario

• Patty Rivera completed tax return

• homework: view these Training Modules

1. Volunteer Standards of Conduct
   IRS Pub. 4961 (or In Spanish)

2. Intake, Interview and Quality Review  (3 options):
   A. Prosperity Now Slides
   OR B.  IRS Pub. 5101 (or in Spanish)
   OR C. IRS Training Video 
    

03: Scenario Review 

• See homework above

• Patty Rivera completed tax return

• Registering to take the Test and Exam Instructions

• Click for instructions to access the IRS Certification Portal. (also for exam portal issues)

• Click here for instructions on taking the exam
  (also for exam portal issues)

Getting to Advanced  

Recording: (Coming late January)

Slides: Getting to Advanced (Coming late January)

• Part A slides
  Part A recording
  Part A practice scenario
  Part A solution (Washington)

• Part B slides
  Part B recording
  Part B practice scenario
  Part B solution (Liu)

04. State Overview, Intake & Exit  

(materials to be posted January 30th)

• Intake & Exit slides

• State Overview slides

• Practice Scenario

• Recording

• Draft Guide to using the DC Property Tax Database 

Returning Preparer A & B

Returning Preparer Part A  

• • Returning Part A: Slides (we will not be sharing a recording of Part A)

  • Additional Self Study & Resources:

    • From AARP Tax Aide 2025 Quick Reference Chart

    • Tax Law Changes: In Pub. 4491, Read “Important Changes for 2025” (PDF page 11+) AND Chapters 1 and 2 (PDF pages 20-42) 

    • Additional Resources (if you want to dive deeper):

      • IRS Taxpayer Advocate on phasing out of paper checks  https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/nta-blog/as-the-irs-phases-out-paper-checks-vulnerable-taxpayers-must-not-be-left-behind/2025/10/ 

      • IRS newsroom on phasing out of paper checks https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-to-phase-out-paper-tax-refund-checks-starting-with-individual-taxpayers 

      • Treasury Guidance on Trump Accounts. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-issue-guidance-on-trump-accounts-established-under-the-working-families-tax-cuts-notice-announces-upcoming-regulations 

Returning Preparer Part B 

• • • Part B: Practice return prep

      • Returning Preparer Practice Scenario

      • Recording

      • Client interview notes: coming soon

      • Curso Completed TY2024 Tax Return