How to Train at Home to become a VITA Volunteer--see the steps below (Click here for a downloadable PDF with active links with the same info) Step One (ALL Volunteers): A. Review the Volunteer Standards of Conduct .
D. Watch these 2 videos to see an example of intake and review process (videos below-links here also)
Step Two (Tax Preparers, Reviewers & Coordinators): Become familiar with the tax forms, tax laws, and software. Tax forms/Tax Laws:
Software--Practice Lab:
Tips & Tricks for Taxslayer
Use the navigation tree on the left to move around quickly-- and the Search feature is really useful. Not sure where to enter a 1099-R? Type 1099R in the search engine twala! it appears. Try typing PIN, 1098t, etc. it's a very useful tool! When you are reviewing the 1040 on the summary screen--the numbers that are blue will take you back to the screen where you entered them for quick review/editing and when you hit continue there it will take you back to the Summary! After you enter information that generates a Schedule, you will see printer icons appear on the menu. Click on the printer icon to see what the generated schedule looks like. (Schedule C, Schedule D, Schedule A-itemized deductions, etc.) Great for quick reviews and for catching errors--seeing if your Schedule C is at a loss, etc. |
VITA/IRS PUBLICATIONS
PUB 4012 (Volunteer Handbook) PUB 6744 Volunteer Test Book PUB 4491 (Training Guide) PUB 4491-X (Training Supplement-pages that have been updated after initial printing of PUB 4011, 4012, 4491, 6744, and more) PUB 17 (general rules for filing a federal income tax return) PUB 4011 (Foreign Student & Scholar Guide)
Here is what the IRS Landing Page for VITA/TCE Volunteers looks like. Certification log-in on the left; training modules and Practice Lab on the right
Step Three: (Tax Preparers, Reviewers & Coordinators) You will be given PUB 4012 & PUB 6744 by your program manager once they come in mid-late November. However, they are available usually online mid-October to early November.
TaxSlayer will be providing 5 training webinars, and as they are released, I will post them here. They can also be found in Practice Lab, on the home screen under Section 6 once it is updated
Here is the link to Tax Preparation Part I released 11/6/20 Here is Tax Preparation Part II released 11/13/20 |
You can contact me at maryvitataxes@gmail.com
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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.
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