Tax Preparer Training

If you are a new volunteer, please review the Volunteer Orientation page before you begin training for your specific volunteer role.

About Tax Preparers

Tax Preparers are the bread and butter of the VITA program, and they do just that: prepare taxes! This role provides a great way to help the community and learn more about taxes. There are two types of Tax Preparer volunteers: Basic and Advanced. Basic Tax Preparers prepare simple returns, while Advanced Tax Preparers take on more complex returns such as those including capital gains, self employment, etc. We strongly encourage all Tax Preparers to certify at the Advanced level because the majority of the returns we see require Advanced certification. Plus, Advanced returns are more fun! Though, we know going for Advanced right off the bat can be intimidating, so you can always certify at the Basic level, then move up to Advanced later on.

Below are the following steps you need to take to become a VITA Tax Preparer:

Step 1: Study Up!

All VITA volunteers must complete IRS certification for their role. The IRS requires Tax Preparers to pass the following exams:

Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSOC)
Intake/Interview and Quality Review (IAQR)
Advanced Exam*

*This year we are requiring all volunteers who wish to be Tax Preparers to certify at the Advanced level

Training for VSOC and I/IQR

The Volunteer Standards of Conduct and Intake/Interview and Quality Review exams are fairly easy to pass without much training, and should take less than 1 hour to complete both. You can access the training materials through the IRS Link & Learn site (you may need to log out of your account if you are signed in).

Click the link above to access the Link & Learn site. On the right side of the screen, you will see the section "Quick Links". Both the Volunteer Standards of Conduct training and the Intake/Interview and Quality Review training are displayed here. We recommend reviewing both of these trainings before taking the exams.

Training for the Advanced Exam

The amount of studying you will need to do to prepare for the Advanced Tax Preparation exam will depend on your knowledge and experience. All of the training resources provided are optional tools to help you study for the exam. As you explore the various training tools, you will find which ones are most helpful for you and your learning style. Please find these in the additional dropdown sections below.

Resource Guide & Testing Booklet

As mentioned in our Volunteer Orientation, the most straightforward study method we recommend is to:

Download or pick up a copy of the VITA testing booklet, Publication 6744, which has all the questions on the exam.
Download or pick up a copy of the VITA resource guide, Publication 4012, which has all the information to answer the exam questions.
Complete all questions in Publication 6744 using the information in Publication 4012 and other online resources.
1. 1. Some of the exam questions will ask you to complete a return online. You can practice completing online returns using the Practice Lab resource listed below.
Attend in-person training day and ask questions that you need help with.
Take exam online and enter your answers from 6744.

If you would like to obtain copies of these publications, you can pick them up from our offices:

Location

Associated Ministries

901 S 13TH ST

Tacoma, WA, 98405

Hours

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

9:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:00PM - 5:00PM

The above publications are also available online in PDF form on the IRS website.

Practice Lab

The Practice Lab training allows you to practice completing returns using the TaxSlayer software that we will use at VITA sites. Typically, the exams include at least one question in which you will have to complete a return. It's important to practice preparing a few returns using the Practice Lab for these reasons.

Click to access the Practice Lab. You will need to enter in the universal password TRAINPROWEB, then create an account.

Note: Your Practice Lab TaxSlayer account is different from the account you will use to prepare returns at sites. If you are a returning volunteer, you will need to use a different account just for the Practice Lab.

Additional Training Resources

IRS Link & Learn

In addition to the resources above, the IRS has also created several online training modules for each tax law topic in Publication 4012. This interactive training is a great supplemental resource for more difficult exam questions or if you are a visual or kinesthetic learner.

To access the Basic or Advanced training modules, go to the Link & Learn Course Content site. You may need to sign out if you are logged into your account. From here, you can work through each module listed under your preferred certification level.

Prosperity Now *

Prosperity Now is a nonprofit organization that makes it easy for VITA volunteers to train for the Basic and Advanced exams. They create several online video trainings that volunteers can work through to prepare for their exams.

In-Person VITA Training

At the beginning of January, VITA Staff will hold a one-day conference-style training for VITA volunteers at the Goodwill Milgard Work Opportunity Center in Tacoma. We will dive deeper into Advanced topics, hold role-specific trainings, answer questions, and allow volunteers to take their exams with staff support.

December 6th 10am-2pm

December 13th 10am-2pm

January 10th 10am-2pm

Step 2: Take Your Exams

When you are ready to take your exams, complete the following steps:

Create a Link & Learn account here if you have not already done so
Sign in to you new Link & Learn account
Under the Advanced tab, select the exam you need to complete
Take the exam (and hopefully pass!)
Email your Volunteer Agreement Form to Alissah@AssociatedMinistries.org

A few things to note:

All exams are open note book.
Exams are NOT timed. You can save them and return to them later if you need.
You can take exams twice if needed. If you need to take them a third or fourth time, then you will have to create a new Link & Learn account with a different email.

Step 3: Select Your Site

Only when we receive your Volunteer Agreement Form can we match you with a site to begin volunteering. Once we receive your Volunteer Agreement Form, we will send you a survey that will list all available sites, locations, days, and times, and you will select your top 3 preferences. Site matches will be made first-come-first-served, so it's best to get your certifications in early!

Email your Volunteer Agreement Form to Alissah@assocaitedministries.org.

Step 4: Site-SPecific Training

Once you've been matched to a site, you will be connected with one of our VITA Site Specialists via email. VITA Site Specialists are our expert volunteers who run VITA sites. They will be your point of contact moving forward and will be available during your volunteer shift to make sure you are supported.

Here are the dates and times:

The week before VITA services open to taxpayers, we will host site specific orientations for all volunteers at their assigned VITA sites. This will help you get familiar with the space and any site-specific requirements.

Monday January 12th: 3pm-4pm Key Center Site orientation

Tuesday January 13th: 2pm-3pm Main Branch Orientation

Wednesday January 14th 12pm-1pm Parkland Spanaway Library Ornientation

Thursday January 15th 12pm-1pm Moore Library Oirentation

Friday January 16th 11am-12pm Fife Library Orientation

Friday January 16th 2pm-3pm Tacoma Housing Authority

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