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Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. |
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Three options for training and certification are available: Process Based Training (32 hours) IRS approved integrated training covers basic/intermediate tax law, TaxWise software and tests that leads to certification. Presented through a week; 8 hours for 4 days. Modified Process Based Training (16 hours) Covers basic tax law software, administrative processes, and allows some time for test that leads to certification. Presented over 2 consecutive Saturdays, or 4 consecutive evenings. Link and Learn Training with Practice Lab Option (20 hours) Students achieve certification at their leisure using a web-based training program. This interactive program integrates tax law and software to assist the volunteer in learning to prepare a tax return and includes a certification test. After completing certification, the student is required to attend a follow-up 4 hour familiarization class that covers administrative processes, reviews tax law, and teaches software used for preparing returns. Volunteers are required to bring certification and Form 13615, Volunteer Agreement to class. |
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New Tax Preparers |
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Returning Tax Preparers |
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Greeters/ Intake Personnel |
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Other |
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Available Training |
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Link and Learn Training with Practice Lab Option (20 hours) Students achieve certification at their leisure using a web-based training program. This interactive program integrates tax law and software to assist the volunteer in learning to prepare a tax return and includes a certification test. After completing certification, the student is required to attend a follow-up 4 hour familiarization class that covers administrative processes, reviews tax law, and teaches software used for preparing returns. Volunteers are required to bring certification and Form 13615, Volunteer Agreement to class. Tax Law Update (6-8 hours) Tax law update, review of basic tax law, software review, administrative updates and certification test using TaxWise software. |
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Classroom Training (4 hours) Class includes instructions for site administrative operations and excellence in customer service.
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Site Coordinator The coordinator is the lead person at the VITA site and responsible for program coordination and various administrative duties associated with managing a site. This also includes weekly coalition coordinator training. 48 hours of training. M thru F 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Training includes tax law, software, and Site Coordinator responsibilities. These responsibilities cover both the coalition requirements and the IRS requirements. Training is designed to achieve Advance certification. Training is presented jointly by the IRS-SPEC relationship manager and the coalition instructor. Classroom Instructors Covers basic tax law software, administrative processes, and allows some time for test that leads to certification. Presented over 2 consecutive Saturdays, or 4 consecutive evenings. Asset Development Specialist Specialist will assist clients with asset building opportunities developed by the coalition and delivered through the VITA sites. 4 hour training session (could be less depending on the types of asset building opportunities). Quality Reviewers Reviewers’ primary responsibility is to review all income tax returns prepared by the tax preparers. This includes checking income, adjustments, credits, as well as, basic entry information. Training is designed to achieve Advance certification. New reviewers with no experience as well as returning reviewers will be trained in basic, intermediate, and advance level tax law, software, and administrative processes with test and certification at the end. 40 hours, M thru F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. CPA reviewers will cover basics such as filing status, EITC, dependency. 8 hours to review and answer questions regarding basic tax law, administrative processes, software, and the review process. This class includes a test.
Intermediate/Advanced Level Tax Law Training An 8 hour tax law class and test. Offered to those students who are interested in extending their knowledge to a higher level. Link & Learn Orientation This 2 hour familiarization class will show volunteers how to access and use the Link and Learn with the Practice Lab. Students will be shown how to manipulate the programs and review the resources used to complete the course. |
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Training and certification for volunteers with or without experience who wish to prepare income tax returns. |
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Offered to volunteers who have previous tax preparation experience and are comfortable with the tax law. |
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Front line person to welcome taxpayers to the site. Greeters are responsible for delivering administrative information to the taxpayers. This includes explaining intake and interview sheet, what the process is, and delivering any coalition outreach. |
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Advanced to Intermediate Level Assignments |
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General |
