Information for TY25 coming soon.

Tax Year 2024 Training

All returning counselors will need to re-certify. The steps to do that are listed below.  This year, a variety of refresher training options will be available.

Certification Process

See the process on one printable page here.

1. Complete Refresher Training (see below)

2. Complete the four Certification exercises in the Practice Lab:  

   • Franklin, Hanson, Jackson, and Miller (both federal and Virginia)

   • Instructions for Accessing Practice Lab and Creating an Account  

   • Log in to Practice Lab

3. Pass Link-and-Learn tests

   • All Counselors  must pass 3 tests before being allowed to work at a Tax-Aide site: 

     • • Standards of Conduct 

       • Intake/Interview and Quality Review

       • Advanced Tax Preparation 

   • This year, the IRS has another new vendor to run the Link-and-Learn certification website. You will be asked to enter your previous user id and then use the “forgot password” link to create a new password. 

     • • Log in to Link-and-Learn

   • As in previous years, all counselors must certify at the "Advanced" level. 

4. Complete Mandatory LMS Training

   • New this year – returning counselors have an option to test out of the LMS modules. All Tax Counselors must either test out of the LMS modules or complete the review of them:

     • • Tax-Aide Policies and Procedures Training

       • Technology and Security

   • See Using the Portal for help accessing the portal. If you have trouble, try using the Chrome browser. Once you are in the portal, select the Training tab, and you will see Policies and Procedures as one of the courses already assigned to you.

   • There is a new LMS provider; we expect the training modules to be available sometime in December 2024.   

5. Sign the Volunteer Agreement and send it in

   • You need to complete and electronically sign the Volunteer Agreement. Save it as "LastName, FirstName - volunteer agreement" and send it to Jeanne Bond at jeannetaxaide@gmail.com at least a week before your first shift. It takes a week for the system to update and you will not have access to the production tax software until you are certified in the system. Please cc your LC on your email with your Volunteer Agreement.

   • In the email, please also let Jeanne know that you have completed:

     • • the required LMS courses,

       • the four required exercises,

       • the required VA training, 

       • any additional optional state training.

Refresher Training