CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING FOR RETURN PREPARERS & REVIEWERS Please follow each of the steps below, in turn, following and completing the links where indicated. Once you have completed these tasks you will be certified and prepared as a VITA return preparer. IF YOU ALREADY PASSED THE VSC (ETHICS) CERTIFICATION, START AT STEP 7 1. Review Introductory PowerPoint describing our operations. 2. Create an account on Vita Central. Follow this getting started guide or this short video for instructions on how to create an account. For “role” select 01-Vita Volunteer, unless you are a site coordinator. Keep track of your login and password. 3. On VITA Central, go to Certification Paths and select Basic or Advanced tab. You do NOT need to complete the Basic test to take Advanced. The tests are stand alone. We recommend Advanced for anyone who has volunteered before or who has a background in tax. At this point, you have two choices: a. Review the volunteer standards of conduct (VSOC) PowerPoint on VITA Central. b. Click this link for hard copy (.pdf document) of the certification material for the VSOC and the 10 multiple choice questions. The questions start on page 26 of this .pdf. The questions on the test will consist of 10 of the 20 test and retest questions. 1 4. You will then access the VSOC certification test on VITA Central and take the test. Log into the Certification Test area. You must get at least 8 questions correct. You may only take test twice, so restudy material if you do not pass the first time 5. Click on this link for a hard copy certification material for the Basic or Advanced tax preparer certification. You must take and pass either the Basic test (recommended for new volunteers) OR the Advanced test (required for reviewers and recommended for returning volunteers). You must get at least 80% of the questions correct. You may only take test twice, so contact Gina Torielli or Melissa Gilchrist for assistance if you do not pass the first time. A print copy of the tests is available here. We recommend you work through the relevant test and retest on the print copy, note your answers, then complete the test online. Note, online questions will come from either the printed test or retest, but will be questions will only come from one of those tests. 6. IRS has online course modules for all certification tests on Vita Central for learning the substantive tax law you are likely to see on returns we prepare. If you are unfamiliar with the EITC, filing status, the various child care and educational credits and deductions you should review the IRS courses. There are also hardcopy materials that are very helpful. Publication 4012 has flowcharts and checklists for common topics. You likely will use this publication a lot for the test and also on the VITA site. Contact Amanda Reel if you would like hard copy of Pub 4012 and the test booklet. 2 7. There are two ways to practice: (a) through the IRS's practice lab (which is easier to access but does not allow you to practice on Michigan returns); or (b) on the actual Taxwise software in the training mode. Both are described, but we recommend option b. a. Click here for the IRS Practice Lab To access the practice lab enter the password “learntwo” (case sensitive). You will be prompted to create an account (not the same as your IRS certification test account.) We have prepared a step-bystep guide for using this software, here. b. Instructions for accessing TaxWise online training lab: i. Log in to http://twonline.taxwise.com/training. ii. Our site ID is 2736072. iii. Your username is your last name plus your first initial. Thus, if your name is John Smith, your username is smithj. iv. Your initial password will be your username. When you login for the first time, you will be asked to select a new password. Please remember this password – if you forget, you can be locked out of your account. v. When you are logged onto training mode you will see a green background. vi. Amanda can give you unique social security numbers to use to open a new return (so you don’t get an error message). vii. You can prepare Michigan and federal tax returns in this training area. 3 viii. We have prepared a step by step guide to using this software, which is available here. 8. We also have a packet of Michigan documents that you may use to prepare State returns for some of the scenarios. You will save time doing federal and state returns together, and recording your answers on the Michigan Certification Test. 9. Review the Intake and Quality Review .pdf on VITA Central or by clicking this link – there is no test, but this helps you perform your greeter tasks. You will see the Intake and Quality Review Training on the homepage BEFORE you log in to VITA Central. You must review this prior to your first shift. (Continued on next page) 4 10. On VITA Central, under Certification Tests, check the box on the top right to electronically sign your VSC agreement. 11. Print out your VSOC Agreement (not your certificate of completion) and email a copy of it to Amanda Reel. Bring the original and your photo ID to your first volunteer shift. (Continued on next page) 5 12. Review the Michigan training materials, if you are unfamiliar with Michigan income tax, the property tax credit or the home heating credit. 13. Take the Michigan certification test. Click here for the test. 14. Sign up for volunteer shifts here. 6