VITA Volunteers
How to become a VITA volunteerTraining dates and times
Volunteering dates and times
Needed Documents
Training materials
Who's who?
Help on the scenarios
FAQs
How To Become A Volunteer
Certification Testing
In order to become a VITA Volunteer at the University of Utah, the volunteer must pass certain tests are required in order to become certified. A volunteer may choose one of the two options:
• Basic/Intermediate Certification: Requires an 80% or higher on Basic, and Intermediate tests.
• Foreign Student Certification: Requires an 80% or higher on Basic, Intermediate, and Foreign Student tests.
The certification tests are taken online through Link and Learn (link provided below). The tests are not timed, are open book, and do not have to be taken in one sitting. For each test, a score of 80% or higher is required in order to pass. The tests consist of both multiple choice and fill in the blank questions.
For clarification, here are some instructions for accessing the Foreign Student certification test. First, log in to the account you use for the basic and intermediate certification tests. Once you've logged in, click on the link at the top that says "My Profile" at the top of the screen. You'll then be able to edit your account details. The first thing posted is Group. In the drop-down menu, select number 8, Foreign Student. Click on Update. Click Yes on the next screen. You'll get a message saying your profile updated successfully. Finally, click on Home and you'll see a link to the test. If you need to get back to the other tests, just change your group back to VITA Volunteer.
Practice Lab & Link and Learn
There are some practice scenarios (4491-W) that will prepare you for when you actually start preparing tax returns. Practice Lab will allow you to practice common scenarios and take the certification test. Practice Lab is the practice software that we will use during the training and certification process. However, we will be using Taxwise Online once we start filing actual returns. Taxwise Online (TWO) is virtually the same program as Practice Lab.
When you are ready to take the tests after completing the scenarios you can access them through Link and Learn.
Instructions for setting up a login for Practice Lab and Link and Learn
• Go to LinkLearn
• Create an account at the bottom.
• After you create an account, go back to where you can login.
• To the right of the page you will see a link for “Practice Lab”. Click it.
• The password is “learntwo”.
• Next you will want to create a new user.
• Enter your zip code and your email address and then click on “Create User ID”
• An email will be sent to you with your User ID.
These are important login accounts, you will need these frequently.
So don't lose them!!!!!
Volunteering Dates and Times
IMPORTANT: The site will be located in the Olpin Union Building, Room 418 February 10th to April 15th. NOT BUC 103 We will be closed on President's Day and the week of Spring Break.
DATES AND TIMES- U.S. Citizen Tax Help (February 15th- April 15th)
• Olpin Union, Room 418- Mondays: 12:30-2:30 PM
• Olpin Union, Room 418- Tuesdays: 12:30-2:30 PM
• Olpin Union, Room 418- Wednesdays: 2:30-4:30 PM
• Olpin Union, Room 418- Saturdays 10:00-12:00 AM
DATES AND TIMES- Foreign Student/Non-Resident Tax Help (February 13th- April 15th)
• Olpin Union, Room 418- Mondays: 6:00-8:00 PM
• Olpin Union, Room 418- Thursdays: 2:30-4:30 PM
Once you have passed all the required tests, take a screenshot of each certification or just your home screen when you log in to Link and Learn that shows your passing score on the basic test. Paste the screenshots in a Word document and email it to Brian Farr at uofuvita09@gmail.com. You will then be able to sign up for the days you would like to volunteer using the following link:
Reserve Your Times to Volunteer
Note that you can sign up on a first-come, first-serve basis. So, you can only volunteer specific days, get certified early. US Citizens- Preparer Instructions
Foreign Students- Preparer Instructions
Needed Documents
Training Materials
The IRS provides a site with tutorials for each type of certification. Also can serve as a good reference.
You will receive a training packet that includes:
Publication 4491-W This is the booklet that contains all of the practice scenarios that you will use to fill out the tax returns on Practice Lab ( Check Figures for 2011 Training Materials ).
Publication 4012 This will be your resource guide to use whenever you have particular questions about tax law (White Tabs) and Tax Wise Online (Blue Tabs). This book is very useful!
Form 6744 This is the booklet that contains all of the possible test questions that you will be tested on in the certification process. This booklet also includes all of the scenario details for the second half of the test.
Publication 17 (optional) This is a more detailed booklet about the tax law. If you the answer to your question is not in the Pub. 4012 (above) then you can find the answer in this book. See me if you want this!
Foreign Student Training The IRS does not provide any manuals for Foreign Student Training, but this should cover all that you need to know for the test.
Foreign Student and Scholar Volunteer Resource Guide This provides a reference for questions about exempt individuals, nonresident or resident aliens, scholarship income, teaching wages, and student wages.
Who's Who?
VITA Manager
Brian Farr, uofuvita09@gmail.com
Practice Scenario Help- Publication 4491 W
First of all, you want to check the information that you entered from the client's W2's. Make sure that all of the boxes are entered correctly. Also, at the top of the W2 worksheet in the Practice Lab program there is a box for spouse or taxpayer. Be sure and check the box that applies. Also, you need to make sure that the filing status is correct, ie single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household. Finally you should check and make sure that if you are filling out the Earned Income Credit that you answer the questions correctly (Some of them can be tricky!).
All of the lines on a 1040 are numbered and correspond with the check figures excel spreadsheet. So for example, the first column on the check figures spreadsheet is AGI Line 37. Go to line 37 on the 1040 and check to see if your number matches the check figure. If it doesn't, then you know that you made a mistake somewhere on lines 7 thru 37 (Income and Adjusted Gross Income Categories). For the next column in the spreadsheet you have to check Taxable Income Line 43. If this number is off it is probably a result of the filing status and/or the number of dependents you selected. Make sure you have those right. Use the same pattern until you find the problem and then you should get the right answers. If you are still having trouble, contact the VITA manager or a Site Coordinator and they will try to help you out.
FAQs
Q) What are the certification tests like?
A) They are open book, open internet, and open whatever (just don't let somebody else take the test for you). The certification test questions come right out of the test booklet that I gave you in your training materials. So if you would like, you can take the test via the booklet, write all your answers in the booklet, and then go online to take the test and copy your answers from the booklet to the online test. The test has two parts, the tax law section(multiple choice/fill-in-the-blank) and the filling out the tax return section (using the Tax Wise Online [TWO] Practice Lab).
Q) How do I prepare for the certification tests?
A) You shouldn't really have to prepare much for the tax law section because it is open book. However, the filling out of the tax return section can be practiced using the 4491-W scenarios. What I would do, to get certified without having to spend a lot of time, is to start doing the basic scenarios in the 4491-W. There are 4 basic scenarios and one comprehensive scenario (we did this one in our training). After finishing each scenario, check your answers with the check figures. If any of your answers are off, be sure to check these items.
a) Filing Status
b) Dependents and Personal Exemptions
c) EIC (is the box checked in the Main Info sheet by the dependents and did you go through the EIC Worksheet)
d) Economic Stimulus Check (If you look at the bottom of the second page of the intake and interview sheets, there is a line asking for the amount of their stimulus check. If they received a check, then you must go to line 70 on page 2 of the 1040. You'll want to fill out the worksheet by clicking on the amount in the line and clicking that little paper with the green arrow. It should load the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet, scroll down all the way to the bottom to line 28 and input the amount that they wrote on the intake and interview sheet)
e) W2 filled out correctly (Be sure to note which W2 belongs to who when filling out the W2 worksheet. At the top of the worksheet it asks if the W2 is for the Taxpayer or the Spouse. Also, don't forget to leave out any amounts that are in boxes 7-10 on the W2. And lastly, sometimes the amounts in boxes 3&5 are different from box 1. Boxes 3&5 are set to automatically put the same number found in box 1. So to get rid of the auto-fill you have to check the box at the top of the worksheet that says "Check to take calculations off of lines 3, 4, 5, and 6."
Q) I put the numbers into the worksheet but they are not adding up or flowing through. Why?
A) One of the weird flaws with Practice Lab is that you have to hit Save in order for it to calculate things. So be sure and hit save every time you type in numbers. This should help with that problem.
