Training & Certification Overview

Table of Contents

Tax-Aide Volunteers

Glossary of Tx-Aide Acronyms (Abbreviations) (External Link) - NEW

Tax-Aide Volunteers must complete annually the minimum training requirements as established by the IRS, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program, and regional, state, and district leaders based on your assigned roles as listed below.

Note: Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended that you use Tax-Aide-issued Chromebooks (CBs) for Tax-Aide training and certification so you can familiarize yourself with their functionality. Refer to this Chromebooks 101 Video for an introduction to Tax-Aide Chromebooks.

The Training and Certification process usually begins after the IRS and NTTC make the required resources available for the current tax year, usually by sometime in November. District Coordinators (DCs) will supervise, monitor & document training for their district volunteers.

Tax-Aide volunteers are not required to memorize anything.  You should know where and how to look up information, and how to ask comprehensive questions to get a complete picture of each Taxpayer.  The training tools and materials provided herein are designed to help you become more familiar with the different tax forms, situations, credits, laws, changes, etc.  The more exposure you have to various taxpayer situations and scenarios, the more knowledgeable and confident you will become.

Minimum Requirements - All Volunteers

Including Client Facilitators and Greeters, who may not do taxes.

• IRS Pub 4961 - Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSOC) 

• IRS Pub 5808 - Intake/Interview and Quality Review Handbook 

• NTTC Form 6744 -  VITA/TCE Volunteer Assistor’s Test/Retest (NTTC Modified) booklet to complete test or retest questions off-line. Used in conjunction with

• IRS Link and Learn - Online exam & certification site to complete & submit the required exams (80% or higher) to obtain certification

• Learning Management System (LMS) - Volunteer Portal, under the Training tab - e-Learning: Lists additional minimum Tax-Aide Required Courses for your assigned volunteer position(s)

Volunteer Leaders Training - Annual

Local (Site) Coordinator (LC)

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Local Coordinator (LC) training uses the same IRS-approved Tax-Aide-developed training materials & products as the IRS Site Coordinator (SC) requirements.

• IRS Pub 4299 - Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights

• IRS Pub 5088 - Site Coordinator Training on IRS.gov

• TaxAide Local Coordinator (LC) Guide

• Link & Learn Taxes Certification (LLT), Site/Local Coordinator Test & Certification: Must pass with 80% or higher. Required for Tax-Aide site LCs and shift supervisors.

• Form 13615 Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement - VITA/TCE Programs records completion of Site Coordinator Test in LLT

• IRS Publication 5683, VITA/TCE Handbook for Partner and Site Coordinators - provides vital information to help LCs and shift supervisors manage their sites before, during, and throughout the tax season.

Note: AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Local Coordinator training uses IRS-approved Tax-Aide-developed training materials & products incorporating key messages from IRS Pub 5088 and is certified for use in the Site Coordinator test in LLT.

TaxSlayer Pro Online (TSO) Site Administrators and Customer Portal

• Usually the designated site ERO and/or Local or Shift Coordinator

  • TaxSlayer Site Administration - Video and Manuals 

  • TaxSlayer Online User Guide - Link to Download page

  • Customer Portal Video

  • Customer Portal Training Guide

  • TaxSlayer Software Configuration Management e-Course

  • Other courses assigned

District Coordinators

In addition to the required courses above, you must complete the LMS e-Course First Year District Coordinators, if assigned.

Notes 1. Upon completion of exams & certification, volunteers should electronically sign your Volunteer SOC Agreement IRS Form 13615 in Link & Learn, then download & email it as an attachment OR print and deliver by hand or mail to your LC/DC

Note 2. District Coordinators (DCs) will confirm certification levels and forward a copy to the state Administrative Specialist (ADS) who must retain these on file until the end of the calendar year following the tax year unless otherwise directed by the SMT

Note 3. The Link & Learn Circular 230 Exam is for professional preparers ONLY and is not valid for the Tax-Aide program.

Additional VITA/TCE Training Material

https://www.vitaresources.net is an excellent resource for additional VITA/TCE program training materials, resources, references, and links. Use it ONLY in addition to the Tax-Aide resources for more training. It's a great way to further practice for the Link & Learn Testing and Certification.

Thanks to Mary Meador, Site Administrator for diligently maintaining this awesome resource and to Rich Stevens, NH TRS for sharing it.