Free Tax Prep = Money in the Bank

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Through your service, you will make a positive difference in the lives of many of our community’s hardworking families. This page highlights the training and certification requirements necessary prior to serving at the VITA tax site in any volunteer capacity. We will go over this information in detail during the volunteer orientation.

You will be required to complete the certification(s) applicable to your volunteer role by mid-January in order to be prepared for service in our program. If you are participating in the VITA Service-Learning course for academic credit at UCA, you will complete your training in class with Professor Phillips. You are still welcome to attend an orientation session to learn about opportunities to serve with our program.

ALL volunteers must register and complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct training and test (approx. 30 min). Tax preparation and intake volunteers, admin. coordinators and savings specialists must also complete the Intake/Interview & Quality Review training and pass the test (approx. 30 min).

Intake and Tax Preparation Volunteers must also complete:

• Tax and Software Training (approximately 8-12 hours, in-class/online)
• Basic or Advanced Certification Test (3-6 hours, online)
• Site Orientation

Admin Coordinators or Savings Specialists must complete:

• Intake and Savings Program Training (2 hours, online)
• Site Orientation

Spanish Interpreters are not required to complete training or certification other than the VSOC, although the Intake/Interview training and site orientation are highly recommended.