Hello Everyone,

Thank you for your interest in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) at UCI. This email serves to inform you about the upcoming tax law training sessions, which are essential for your journey to becoming an IRS-certified volunteer tax preparer.

Purpose of Training

The sessions aim to equip you with the necessary tax knowledge and skills to confidently prepare taxes for others. Per IRS requirements, all VITA volunteers must pass the required volunteer certification test. The training aims to not only teach tax knowledge but also to ensure you’re well-prepared for the certification exams. The training is provided for free.

Training Options (Choose One)

Option 1: In-person Training at Irvine Valley College

Address: Irvine Valley College (5500 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA)

Provided by: Orange County United Way

Volunteers should attend 3 training sessions:

Day 1 (9 am – 4 pm): Saturday, Nov 11 OR Saturday, Dec 02 (Orientation & Introduction to Advanced Tax Law)
Day 2 (9 am – 5 pm): Saturday, Nov 18 OR Saturday, Dec 09 (Deep Dive to Advanced Tax Law)
Day 3 (9 am – 4 pm): Saturday, Dec 16 (Practicum)

Please register for the sessions at least 3 days prior via https://vita.volunteerhub.com.

Option 2: Online Training via Zoom

Provided by: AIM-IRS

Sessions include 11 classes, with recordings available for Classes 1-8.

Dates (9:00 am – 3:00 pm):

(Review YouTube Recordings for Class 1-3)
Saturday, Nov 18: Classes 4-6 (Part I)
Saturday, Dec 02: Classes 6 (Part II) – 8
Saturday, Dec 09: Q&A / Basic Test Review
Saturday, Dec 16: Classes 9-11
Saturday, Jan 06: Q&A / Advanced Test Review

Refer to the attached PDFs for detailed information and Zoom link. There is no need to register (only register if you plan to attend in person); simply join via the provided Zoom link at the scheduled times.

Additionally, they offer condensed refresher sessions during the week. Details are in the PDF attachment.

Certification Levels and Exams

After training, you’ll take certification tests for various levels—Basic, Advanced, Foreign Student, etc. You’re authorized to prepare tax returns that correspond with your certification level. At a minimum, UCI VITA volunteers must attain Basic certification, along with passing the Volunteer Standards of Conduct and Intake/Interview and Quality Review exams. These are open-book, non-timed, and require an 80% passing score. Two attempts are allowed. You will be provided with more information about the test during the training sessions.