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CA$H Volunteer Tax Preparer Study Guide for Tax Year 2011

 

WHO: New and returning volunteers seeking to become IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers

HOW:

  • New tax preparers: Before preparing income taxes, every volunteer tax preparer is required to pass the Internal Revenue Service online course Link & Learn. This interactive course allows you, at your own pace, to learn about tax law through case studies and mock interviews. The program uses pop-up windows to connect to forms, publications and other resource materials. All volunteers will need to pass the “Basic” test. Typically, the Basic certification requires 20 hours of self study, and 7 hours of required classroom instruction—optional training is also available. The time it takes to get certified will vary based on your previous experience (not required) with income taxes, and "level” you choose to become certified. If you are willing, we encourage you to continue with the Intermediate and Advanced certification. Note: certification is only valid at IRS (VITA) sites. Intermediate and Advanced certification levels require an additional 15-25 hours of self study per level, but no additional classroom instruction is required.
  • Returning tax preparers: You are required to re-certify under the Link & Learn “Returning Student” course. Please consider increasing your certification to Intermediate and Advanced, as well as assisting at our new volunteer tax preparer workshops.
  • All tax preparers: Read the remaining instructions and begin the online certification process. You will need non-mobile access to the Internet to complete these steps.
    1. Complete our volunteer registration process;
    2. Sign up for the training workshops (listed below) on the Volunteer Scheduling Web site;

      The following is a list of requirements to become a volunteer tax preparer:

      • (Required for new tax preparers) New Tax Preparer Orientation (2 hrs): pre-certification training—attend one of the following
        • Saturday, 12/17: 9-11 a.m.
        • Monday, 12/19: 6-8 p.m.
        • Tuesday, 12/20: 6-8 p.m.
      • (Optional but encouraged for new tax preparers) New Tax Preparer Study Hall (2 hrs): review and practice common tax site scenarios
        • Thursday, December 29: 6-8 p.m.
        • Friday, December 30: 6-8 p.m.
      • (Optional but encouraged for new tax preparers) Federal tax law and tax site case studies (4 hrs): in-depth review of tax site scenarios and the soft skills needed to interact with clients
        • Saturday, 1/7: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
      • (Required for new tax preparers, optional for returning tax preparers) TaxWise tax preparation software (2 hrs), need to have passed Link & Learn Basic test—attend at least one of the following
        • Monday, 1/9: 6-8 p.m.
        • Tuesday, 1/10: 6-8 p.m.
        • Wednesday, 1/11: 6-8 p.m.
        • Thursday, 1/12: 6-8 p.m.
        • Saturday, 1/14: 9-11 a.m.
      • (Required for new tax preparers, optional for returning tax preparers) State of Maine tax law (3 hrs)—attend one of the following
        • Saturday, 1/14: 1-4 p.m. (tentative)
        • Monday, 1/16: 6-9 p.m.
        • Tuesday, 1/17: 6-9 p.m.
        • Wednesday, 1/18: 6-9 p.m.
    3. Pick-up your volunteer reference guides at our office (1 Canal Plaza, 3rd Floor, Portland 04101) during business hours: Mon-Fri from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. You do not need to read these guides cover-to-cover--they are resources, and helpful while getting your certification, and at the tax sites;
    4. Complete the steps listed below to become an IRS-certified volunteer tax preparer, and attend our training workshops that you signed up for in step 2 (above).

Online Preparation and Certification:

(New information may be added to these instructions--we will note revisions here--12/13/11: certification overview.)

Important: please turn off "pop-up blockers" on your Internet browser before continuing.

As you work through the certification process, you will use three different Web sites for different purposes: Link & Learn, Practice Lab, and the VITA/TCE Certification Testing Site. You can link to both the Practice Lab and the Testing Site from Link & Learn, and both of those sites require you to leave the IRS website.

  • To complete lessons on tax topics, you will use the IRS Volunteer Training website “Link & Learn”: www.irs.gov/app/vita;
  • To complete simulated tax returns and to familiarize yourself with the tax preparation software, you will use the Practice Lab, which is a simulation of the tax preparation software we use at the tax sites: www.voltaxprep.com;
  • To complete your certification tests and to sign your Volunteer Agreement, you will use the VITA/TCE Certification Web site, which can be accessed via Link & Learn: http://linklearn.webtechteam.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdefault.aspx

Getting Started with Link & Learn

  1. Go to the IRS volunteer training Web site “Link & Learn”: www.irs.gov/app/vita.
  2. Read this page, then click on the blue “Certification Paths” tab at the top of the page. Choose the “Basic” certification for students, then the link “Start Basic Course”. Returning preparers, please visit www.irs.gov/app/vita/returning_student.jsp.
  3. You may complete the “Basic” course” by clicking through each lesson topic. Your 2011 Publication 4491: Student Training Guide (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491.pdf) follows the same lesson plan. Be sure to select the “Tax Facts” button during each lesson. All of the lesson module topics can be helpful in answering the questions on the certification test. Refer to the Volunteer Resource Guides as needed, and IRS Publication 17 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf).

Using the Practice Lab

  1. Use the “Practice Lab” to help you complete the test questions (vs. completing them by hand) by creating electronic tax returns. Please note that the Practice Lab is a simulation of our tax preparation software, TaxWise.
  2. To get to the Practice Lab, click the “Practice Lab” button on the bottom of each lesson topic or go to www.voltaxprep.com.
  3. Select the “Leave the IRS” button on the next page.
  4. In the space provided enter the universal password: learntwo (all lowercase, no spaces).
  5. Click on “Create New User” link.
  6. Enter your ZIP code and email address.
  7. Click on “Create User ID” button.
  8. The system will generate a six digit User ID. Print this page. It will be emailed to you as well.
  9. Caution: Your User ID cannot be retrieved. Practice returns will be lost if you lose or misplace it. If you forget or lose your User ID, you will be able to create a new User ID using the same ZIP Code and email address.
  10. Log into the Practice Lab using your User ID and ZIP Code.
  11. If you would like help navigating the Practice Lab, take the tutorial “Getting Started with Link & Learn”
  12. To start a new return, click on “New Return” link in the upper left hand corner.
  13. Enter a Social Security Number using your Practice Lab User ID as the last digits of each of your mock social security numbers, and click “Go to Interview.”
  14. Before taking your test, use Practice Lab to review the Basic scenario questions in Publication 4491-W: Comprehensive Problems and Exercises Workbook (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491w.pdf), and 2011 Form 6744: Volunteer Assistor’s Test/Retest (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f6744.pdf). These questions are the same as the online course and test. Some questions may be worded differently online, so be careful if you are transferring your answers. It will also be helpful to review the questions in this guide as you take the course.

Taking the Certification Tests

  1. Once you are ready to take the Basic Test, click on the link “Test” on the Link & Learn Web site.
  2. Select the “Leave the IRS” button on the next page.
  3. Before you take the test, you will need to register. Click on “Create an Account” at the bottom left side of the page and complete the questions. Create your own username and password.
  4. Once created, sign in using your username and password.
  5. To take a practice exam before taking your test, click the link "Practice Exam".
  6. Once you complete the practice exam, choose the "Basic" tab to begin your test.
  7. All volunteers must complete the "Volunteer Standards of Conduct" (VSC) training, pass the VSC test, and sign Form 13615, prior to taking the Basic Test. The intent is to provide guidance and a structure for regulating volunteers and to protect taxpayers.
  8. Begin your test. The test is not timed. You may use all of your resources to complete the test, including Link & Learn and the Practice Lab. You may also sign out of the test before it is complete, and return later without losing your answers.
  9. Please note the following: Be sure to use the Practice Lab to complete the questions and tax returns, referencing the printed or electronic resource books. Do not attempt to use paper forms and your own calculations; You must pass the “Basic” test to be a volunteer tax preparer. We urge you to become certified as an intermediate or advanced preparer, but it’s not required; you only have two opportunities to receive your certification. Please contact us with questions.
  10. Once you take the test, you will receive an electronic certificate (the link is accessible when you click on “test” and log-on).
  11. Please save an electronic copy of the certificate.
  12. Print two copies: one for your records and one for Karen.
  13. Email (kwyman@unitedwaygp.org), fax (874-1007) or mail (P.O. Box 15200, Portland 04112) a copy of this certificate.
  14. Be sure to complete/sign your Volunteer Agreement, Form 13615. This will appear on the Web site with your certificate.

Resource Guides

The following materials will help you study for your certification:

  • 2011 Publication 4491: Student Training Guide contains the same information as the Link & Learn lessons: (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491.pdf);
  • 2011 Publication 17: (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf);
  • 2011 Publication 4012: Volunteer Resource Guide provides step-by-step instructions and help with the entire process of completing returns. (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4012.pdf). Always have the printed version of this guide available when you prepare taxes;
  • 2011 Publication 4491-W: Comprehensive Problems and Exercises Workbook contains the same problems and exercises as the Link & Learn Web site: (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491w.pdf);
  • 2011 Form 6744: Volunteer Assistor’s Test/Retest contains the same scenarios and questions as the certification tests, though they may be worded differently: (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f6744.pdf).