​Every volunteer needs to start by taking these 2 tests:
  • Volunteer Standards of Conduct/Ethics Test.
  • Intake form and clients needs to take the Intake Interview and Quality Review test as well.  
Review the Volunteer Standards of Conduct & answer the 10 questions
Review Intake/interview and Quality Review  & answer the 10 questions
For Intake Personnel-- here is a link to some training on intake interviews to make you feel more comfortable 

Now take these first 2 tests:

 If this is your first year with us you need to set up your certification account.  (for returning volunteers go to Step 2)

Create an account at https://www.linklearncertification.com/d/ the IRS VITA certification site is located on the left side of the screen. Click on Create an Account (When you create your account: complete ONLY the fields with the red asterisk *)   
​Enter the following: 
  • Group- 01 VITA
  • Training Source: Other
  • Make sure to write down your username and password!!! You will need this for certification every year
  • Partner/Organization Name:  United Way of Lee Inc.
  • If this is your first year as a VITA volunteer-- enter (1) for number of years volunteered. DO NOT ENTER 0 **if you are a returning volunteer please make sure this number reflects the year of service you are going to be in this tax season. *Update every year
  • Leave SEID field blank
For the following section(see image): only if you are a paid tax preparer, an attorney, CPA, or Enrolled Agent and wish to get continue education credits you MUST complete the following questions,  pass the Advanced Certification and volunteer over 10 hours in tax preparation, as a reviewer, or as coordinator in order to receive credits from the IRS. Everyone else skip this section.
Note: Circular 230 test will not count towards Continuing Education Credits-you must pass Advanced for that.
To learn more about CE credits see Publication 5362
Log in and take the two (2) test:
      Code of Conduct/Ethics
      Intake Interview/Quality Review
  • You need to pass each test with a score of 80% or higher. You get (2) two attempts at each test. 
 If your Role is Greeter, Intake Personnel,  or Interpreter you do not need to take any more certifications.  Click here to learn how to electronically sign your volunteer agreement and send it to your program manager: Volunteer Agreement

Everyone else-- tax preparers, site coordinators, and quality reviewers click here to go back to Certification page

To help you feel more comfortable with the intake form and having an intake interview with the client, there are a few videos posted below.
​Below is an old video made from a VITA program in California modeling an intake process.
Here is a link to another intake video I found-- this is a few years old--but a nice interview www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFkwYY_tfQ&list=PLZutVc_hew2HBwIvHOk-AbN2PxEogw8Io&index=22 ​
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Contact Me
You can contact me at maryvitataxes@gmail.com 
Please note: I, Mary Meador, AM NOT a certified accountant or tax law expert. I volunteer with VITA providing free tax preparation for individuals and families whose income is less than $66,000 a year. We deal with simple returns at our sites.  I cannot guarantee the accuracy of all the information on this site as tax laws change and I may not have a clear understanding of complicated issues. I am trying to provide basic tax preparation information for our volunteers to get started--remember Publication 4012 is your go-to resource for questions, as well as irs.gov and Publication 17.  I hope you find this information useful and easy to understand. Thanks for being a VITA/TCE volunteer!​