Training will begin for the 2025 Tax Season in December.
Sign up to receive our volunteer newsletter, The Ladder Update here, for all future updates!
Primary Resources and Publications: (DO NOT PRINT)
2024-2025 Mini Manual – COMING SOON! Mini-manual will be available for each volunteer at in-person training and tax sites. We recommend you review this mini manual and encourage you to use it for training and when you are out at a tax site.
Pub 4012 – This volunteer resource guide will assist you in completing a tax return using TaxSlayer.
Pub 4491 – IRS training guide. Use this publication to read about tax law topics in detail.
Pub 4491X – VITA/TCE Training Supplement
Certification Tests
Each year, volunteers must pass a combination of a few tests with at least 80% or higher. Volunteers have two opportunities to pass the test. Note that if you fail the first time, the retest exam has a different set of questions.
Pub 6744 – Volunteer Test and retest questions
All Roles: All volunteers must complete both exams below.
Tax Prepares and Quality Reviewers: Volunteers in these roles have to complete the VSC, IIQR, and one of the following certification tests below.
Get started in Link and Learn:
- IRS will be publishing a new Link and Learn platform by mid-November 2024.
- TaxSlayer Practice Lab – https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRStraining
- Universal Password: TRAINPROWEB
TaxSlayer Tutorial Videos
Logging into TaxSlayer for the first time – Video
TaxSlayer Tutorial Video – Basic Information
TaxSlayer Tutorial Video – Income
Additional Resources
Tax Site Checklists:
Tax Preparer Checklist – with New TaxSlayer enhancements for the tax season
Quality Reviewer Checklist – This checklist guides you on what to verify before explaining the tax return.