Check with your local site coordinator for current positions and training requirements. Below are the positions, training requirements, and certification requirements for Lincoln VITA and Affiliates.
Tax Preparer
IRS certified volunteer tax preparers provide quality and accurate tax return assistance to taxpayers. Previous tax knowledge is not required. We highly recommend certifying at the “Advanced” level. You may be asked to peer quality review.
Training Requirements: Attend tax law trainings; one full, eight (8) hour day in-person training OR two four (4) hour virtual sessions to gain knowledge to assist in passing their IRS tax law exams and a four (4) hour TaxSlayer (IRS provided software) training. Additional virtual brown bag tax law sessions, training materials, practice sessions and resources will be made available.
Certifications: Must pass Volunteer Standard of Conduct, Intake/Interview & Quality Review, and Advanced tax law exams.
Interpreter
Volunteers in this role provide free interpretation services to clients who are not fluent in English. Basic tax knowledge is helpful for interpreting some financial jargon but not required.
Training Requirements: Interpreters will attend a 90 minute “Greeter” training session, which does not include tax law certification. Attend virtual brown bag tax law sessions and are welcome to attend other tax law training events.
Certifications: Must pass Volunteer Standard of Conduct and Intake/Interview & Quality Review exams, and take the ‘Basic’ tax law exam.
Greeter
Greeters set a positive and friendly tone, welcoming all clients to our tax preparation and tax clinic sites. In addition, greeters will assist with providing intake documentation, screening for required documents, answering general procedural questions (no tax law questions), and scheduling/rescheduling appointments. Greeters will also use the Scheduling App reservation management site.
Training Requirement: Greeters will attend a 90 minute training session, which does not include tax law certification.
Certification: Must pass Volunteer Standard of Conduct and Intake/Interview & Quality Review exams.
Quality Reviewer
A quality reviewer is knowledgeable in tax law, certified at the “Advanced” level, and has VITA experience. They are available to answer tax preparers’ questions when they are not reviewing a completed return for accuracy and confirming all entries have been correctly entered.
Training Requirements: Attend tax law trainings; one full, eight (8) hour day in-person training OR two four (4) hour virtual sessions to gain knowledge to assist in passing their IRS tax law exams and a four (4) hour TaxSlayer (IRS provided software) training. Additional virtual brown bag tax law sessions, training materials, practice sessions and resources will be made available.
Certification: Must pass Volunteer Standard of Conduct, Intake/Interview & Quality Review, and Advanced tax law exams.
Site Coordinator/Lead Volunteer
Site Coordinators and Lead Volunteers have extensive tax law knowledge, tax experience or previous experience at a VITA site. They are responsible for managing the volunteer agreements, supervising volunteer shifts, ensuring every tax return is quality reviewed, answering taxpayer and volunteer questions, and transmitting (e-filing) completed, quality reviewed, and signed tax returns.
Training Requirements: Must be a returning volunteer, certified at the “advanced” level, and attend a three (3) hour site coordinating training. In addition, site coordinators must attend tax law trainings, greeter/interpreter training, and TaxSlayer training.
Certification: Must pass Site Coordinator, “Advanced” tax law, Volunteer Standard of Conduct and Intake/Interview & Quality Review exams.
