IRS Volunteers Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
If you are a new volunteer and do not have prior experience preparing client tax returns, you may join our VITA volunteer program as a tax volunteer. VITA is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant program which is an Internal Revenue Service initiative designed to support free tax preparation service. You will need to complete a series of online training videos and take a certification test to become a VITA volunteer.
Follow these steps below and click on links to start the VITA Certification:
IRS/Federal Publications – It’s highly recommend that you download/bookmark these IRS materials and refer to them when working on your certification exams:
1. Review the following directions for Certifications, Link & Learn and Practice Lab
- Certification & Practice Lab
- Link & Learn Directions https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5379.pdf
- Practice Lab FAQ https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5377.pdf
2. Review the following resource guides that will assist you in the Practice lab and Certification Test
- Volunteer Resource Guide (PDF) IRS Pub 4012
- Volunteer Training Guide (PDF) IRS Pub 4491
- Volunteer Test/Rest (PDF) IRS Pub 6744 – See Volunteer Alert, VTA 2023-02
- Other IRS/Federal Publications IRS Pub 17 – Tax Guide (PDF)
- Affordable Care Act (ACA) Scenarios (PDF)
- Pub 5157A VITA Tax Return Quality Review Job Aid (PDF)
3. The Next step is to practice. Log into the Practice Lab (pw: TRAINPROWEB)
4. Now you are ready to take the VITA Certification Test. You will need to create a personal login and password. Link and Learn – VITA/TCE Central – Certification
5. Optional: While you will not be tested on CA State Tax information, it is important that you know how to handle things in the CA State return. Please refer to these resources from the CA Franchise Tax Board.
6. After you complete the certification process, please send us an email to admin@tax-aid.org and include a PDF copy of your VITA certification form 13615.
7. Questions? Email us at admin@tax-aid.org