TRAINING

In-person training, practice sessions and self-paced on-line training options are available to help you prepare for your test


Vita Resources Website (clickable link)

Excellent learning material for all VITA and TCE volunteers at Vita Resources.  This site is open now but we except additional material to be made available when the IRS fully implements the changes required by Congress (One Big Beautiful Bill).

Link & Learn (clickable link)

Link & Learn is an official IRS site that offers a full complement of on-line training.  This is also the site where we must complete our annual certification testing.  Pub 5378 contains detailed instructions on how to register and create a logon account for this service.  This web-based program providing six certification courses for volunteers and a refresher course for returning volunteers. This training prepares Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) partners and volunteers to provide quality tax return preparation services in their local communities. This fun, interactive course teaches you to accurately prepare income tax returns for individuals, and you can obtain volunteer certification along the way at your own pace! 

The Practice Lab is a part of Link & Learn and gives us a  place to enter  practice tax returns.  Typically we use Practice Lab to complete some of our test questions.

Remote Training via ZOOM

Tax training is conducted by local VITA volunteers and is held via Zoom on Saturdays, starting in early November.  We plan to hold 7 training sessions for the 2025 tax year. A training session typically consists of classroom lectures in the morning and practice tax returns using the IRS-provided tax software in the afternoon. All sessions are recorded, so you can catch up if you miss one.  Registration is required. Full details including schedule and registration link are listed below.

Training session recordings, handouts, and presentations are saved in the United Way portal here.

Practice Sessions

We conduct several in-person “Practice Sessions” at Davis and Woodland Senior Centers during November and December.  This is an excellent opportunity to meet some of our experienced tax preparers and learn how to access Practice Lab and begin your training. Bring your laptop or Chromebook if you have one, orherwise we can provide one. 

LocationDateTime
Woodland Senior Center Monday, November 310 AM – 2 PM
Woodland Senior CenterThursday, November 201 PM – 5 PM
Woodland Senior CenterMonday, December 810 AM – 2 PM
Davis Senior CenterWednesday, November 512 PM – 4 PM
Davis Senior CenterWednesday, December 312 PM – 4 PM
Davis Senior CenterWednesday, December 1712 PM – 4 PM

IRS Link & Learn, Local Practice Sessions, Zoom Sessions Continue

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In-Person Classroom Training

Four days of in-person tax training will be conducted at the Woodland Senior Center January 20th to January 23rd, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will receive annual training on tax law, use of tax software, scope, intake interviews, and Program policies and procedures. Full agenda to follow.

Volunteers must use the IRS Link & Learn website for all IRS certification tests. Volunteers may take the tests on paper using IRS Form 6744, but their answers must be entered in the electronic tests within Link & Learn. All IRS tests may be taken at home and are “open book.” 
 

ZOOM Training Schedule

MonthTraining DateTitleRegister
NovemberNovember 8, 2025Tax Law & PreparationNovember Classes
November 15, 2025Tax Law & PreparationRegister
November 22, 2025Tax Law & Preparation
DecemberDecember 6, 2025Tax Law & PreparationDecember Classes
December 13, 2025Tax Law & PreparationRegister
December 20, 2025Tax Law & Preparation
JanuaryJanuary 24, 2026Tax Law UpdateJanuary Classes
Register