VITA Volunteer Training Schedule

Get Involved With VITA!

Thank you for your interest in serving as a VITA volunteer! Whether you want to help people prepare their taxes, manage the front of house at our community sites, or help people using Valet VITA with their intake interviews, you'll play a critical role in our ability to deliver a valuable service to our clients. 

We offer trainings throughout the month of January in an effort to accommodate everyone's schedules and interests. Please make a note of session descriptions, and sign up only for those which you plan to attend, based on the roles in which you'd like to serve this coming season.

First-Time Tax Preparer Training

This training is best-suited for first-time VITA tax preparers and returning tax preparers who would like an in-depth review of tax law and the Tax Slayer software. For your convenience, we are offering multiple trainings, all of which cover the same content. All first-time tax preparers should register for one of these courses.

  • Register here for the track that takes place on Saturdays at the University of Arizona from January 5-26. This track is four sessions of six hours each (8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.). You should be present for each session to be best-prepared for the IRS certification exam. 
  • Register here for the track that takes place on Saturdays at Pima Community College from January 5-26. This track is four sessions of six hours each (8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.). You should be present for each session to be best-prepared for the IRS certification exam.
  • Register here for the track that takes place Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at the University of Arizona from January 14-24. This track is six sessions of four hours each (5:00 - 9:00 p.m.). You should be present for each session to be best-prepared for the IRS certification exam.
  • Register here for the track that takes place Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at Pima Community College from January 14-24. This track is six sessions of four hours each (5:00 - 9:00 p.m.). You should be present for each session to be best-prepared for the IRS certification exam.

Greeter/Interview Specialist Training

This training is for anyone interested in serving at one of our neighborhood sites as a greeter/interview specialist, or in serving with our mobile Valet VITA program. We are offering multiple trainings, all of which cover the same content. Anyone wishing to serve as a greeter/interview specialist this season should sign up for one of these trainings.

  • Register here for the training on Monday, January 7, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  • Register here for the training on Tuesday, January 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Register here for the training Saturday, January 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Register here for the training Monday, February 4, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Quality Reviewer Training

This training is for new and returning quality reviewers as well as any tax preparers interested in learning about the quality review process. We are offering two trainings, both of which cover the same content.

  • Register here for the training on Tuesday, January 15, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
  • Register here for the training Thursday, January 17, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Health Savings Account Training

This training is for new and returning tax preparers and quality reviewers interested in the unique aspects of preparing returns for taxpayers with a health savings account (HSA). Participation in this training and certification will allow you to serve a greater diversity of clients.

  • Register here for the training Monday, January 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Refresher Training

This training is for returning tax preparers and covers modifications to tax law, software updates and new resources. Currently, there is only one refresher training scheduled, but an additional training will likely be added at a as needed.

  • Register here for the training on Saturday, January 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
  • Register here for the training on Friday, January 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Open Lab

The Open Lab is not a structured training, but an opportunity to drop in and re-visit course material or certification exam scenarios that are puzzling you, or even complete your certification exams in advance of final sessions. Because this is a drop-in style session, you need not arrive at the start time or stay for the entirety of the scheduled time. Please RSVP if you plan to attend any or all of the Open Lab.

  • Register here for the Open Lab on Thursday, January 17, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Tax Preparer Training Make-up Session

If you missed a session of your tax preparer session, don't worry. It happens to more people than you might think! To accommodate volunteers who have missed a day and want to make sure they know all the material in advance of sites opening, we've scheduled a special make-up session with VITA Expert, Pia Seebach-York.

  • Register here for the make-up session on Thursday, January 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
    • Please contact Pia Seebach-York after you RSVP to let her know what content you would like to go over so she may plan ahead.

 

If you have any questions about what trainings would be best for you, contact Rachel Cheeseman.