Training
All volunteers are required to complete and pass the online certification exam on the following topics:
All preparers are required to pass the preparer certification test at the advanced level:
There are a variety of resources available to help volunteers learn to prepare tax returns. With the transition to TaxSlayer, hands-on training by preparing practice returns is more important than ever.
IRS. The IRS publishes Pub. 4491 VITA/TCE Training Guide, Pub. 4491-X VITA/TCE Training Supplement, and Pub. 4491-W VITA/TCE Problems and Exercises. The last document is an evergreen publication and is not updated annually. All these documents focus on federal returns only.
TaxSlayer. TaxSlayer has established a training website called Practice Lab. Contact your district lead trainer for instructions on how to login. Practice Lab has a series of videos and seven practice exercises. While these focus on preparation of federal returns only, they cover a variety of scenarios and provide practice in navigating TaxSlayer. The practice problems and answers can be downloaded directly from Practice Lab; to make things easier we’ve copied the practice returns here (PL-1, PL-2, PL-3, PL-4, PL-5, PL-6, PL-7) and the answers to the practice returns here (PL-1A, PL-2A, PL-3A, PL-4A, PL-5A, PL-6A, PL-7A). See the Resources tab for links to available TaxSlayer manuals.
NTTC. The Tax-Aide National Tax Training Committee (NTTC) develops workbooks of practice returns and quizzes to support the volunteer training program. These focus on federal returns only although some districts may adapt the problems for state use. These exercises cover and wide range of topics, some of which may not be common at certain sites.
The NTTC published their Workbook for Tax Year 2016 (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). This version is available on the AARP Portal in the One Support Help Center. There are 15 practice returns plus various exercises and quizzes included in the workbook, with the answers included in Part 3. While these problems focus on preparing federal returns only, it’s important to note that the NTTC assumed the taxpayer was a resident of Indiana for those situations where state makes a difference (such as the sales tax deduction and health care premium affordability).
State Training. VT Department of Taxes conducts a one day workshop in January. Each individual District may also build upon that training session.
District Training. Many districts have developed their own district unique training exercises. Contact your district lead trainer.
All volunteers are required to complete and pass the online certification exam on the following topics:
- Pub. 4961 VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training
- Pub. 5101 Intake/Interview & Quality Review Training
All preparers are required to pass the preparer certification test at the advanced level:
There are a variety of resources available to help volunteers learn to prepare tax returns. With the transition to TaxSlayer, hands-on training by preparing practice returns is more important than ever.
IRS. The IRS publishes Pub. 4491 VITA/TCE Training Guide, Pub. 4491-X VITA/TCE Training Supplement, and Pub. 4491-W VITA/TCE Problems and Exercises. The last document is an evergreen publication and is not updated annually. All these documents focus on federal returns only.
TaxSlayer. TaxSlayer has established a training website called Practice Lab. Contact your district lead trainer for instructions on how to login. Practice Lab has a series of videos and seven practice exercises. While these focus on preparation of federal returns only, they cover a variety of scenarios and provide practice in navigating TaxSlayer. The practice problems and answers can be downloaded directly from Practice Lab; to make things easier we’ve copied the practice returns here (PL-1, PL-2, PL-3, PL-4, PL-5, PL-6, PL-7) and the answers to the practice returns here (PL-1A, PL-2A, PL-3A, PL-4A, PL-5A, PL-6A, PL-7A). See the Resources tab for links to available TaxSlayer manuals.
NTTC. The Tax-Aide National Tax Training Committee (NTTC) develops workbooks of practice returns and quizzes to support the volunteer training program. These focus on federal returns only although some districts may adapt the problems for state use. These exercises cover and wide range of topics, some of which may not be common at certain sites.
The NTTC published their Workbook for Tax Year 2016 (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). This version is available on the AARP Portal in the One Support Help Center. There are 15 practice returns plus various exercises and quizzes included in the workbook, with the answers included in Part 3. While these problems focus on preparing federal returns only, it’s important to note that the NTTC assumed the taxpayer was a resident of Indiana for those situations where state makes a difference (such as the sales tax deduction and health care premium affordability).
State Training. VT Department of Taxes conducts a one day workshop in January. Each individual District may also build upon that training session.
District Training. Many districts have developed their own district unique training exercises. Contact your district lead trainer.