VITA Volunteer Training

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Through your service, you will make a positive difference in the lives of many of our community’s hardworking families. This page details the training and certification requirements necessary prior to serving at the VITA tax site in any volunteer capacity.

Overview

All volunteers must register and complete a brief Volunteer Standards of Conduct training and test. Additional training requirements vary by volunteer rote.

For example, tax preparation volunteers must also:

Learn TaxSlayer software, which is used for tax preparation at tax sites
Pass an IRS Tax Certification Test (complete sample tax returns and answer questions applying basic tax law)

All tests and training resources can be found on the IRS Link & Learn website. You must create a username and password to access the certification tests (for more info see Pub 5378). Step by step instructions on the volunteer training and certification process are available in our Volunteer Training Guide.

Training Requirements

All volunteers must complete the following items:

Volunteer Registration and orientation (online)
Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSOC) training and test (online)
Intake/Interview & Quality Review training and test (online)
Tax Site Orientation (online or in person)

Tax Preparers, Interns, and Site Coordinators must also complete:

VITA Volunteer Tax Certification Prep Sessions (four 3-hour live Zoom sessions, schedule & registration here)
Advanced Tax Prep Certification Test (online)
What’s New – OBBB Updates training (online or in person)
Quality Review and Arkansas State Tax Return training (optional, in person)

Financial Guides must complete:

Financial Literacy Program Orientation (online or in person)

Translators are not required to complete training or certification other than the VSOC, although intake/interview training and site orientation are highly recommended.

Training Resources

IRS Link & Learn Taxes Certification Site: https://linklearncertification.com/

Tax Certification Prep Sessions: https://mytrueprosperity.com/vita-training
Coupon Code: AAB2026

IRS Link & Learn Taxes e-Learning Modules: https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/

TaxSlayer Practice Lab: https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining
Universal Password: TRAINPROWEB

Certification Test Study Guides: https://www.vitaresources.net/studyguides.html

Testing Tips

VITA certification tests are open book and untimed. Being a good volunteer is not about memorizing tax law, it’s about learning how to use your reference materials.
Read the fine print. Often the test questions will require you to dig deep into the footnotes of Pub 4012.
Take your certification test on paper first, using Pub 6744, and write down your answers. Look at both the test and re-test versions of the questions.
Make sure that you complete all tax return scenarios in the TaxSlayer Practice Lab. Do not guess on these answers or try to work them out on paper!
Check your answers using a study guide before attempting the test in Link & Learn.
Perfection is not expected! A passing score is 80% and you get up to two attempts.
If you want to save information about any questions you answered incorrectly, you will need to print the test results page for your records! The information will no longer be available once you close this results screen.
Your test results will be saved in Link & Learn and included on your signed volunteer agreement. Make sure to download your completed Form 13615 from Link & Learn after all required certifications are completed and email it to volunteer@arkansasassetbuilders.org.