Certification Paths
- Basic
- The Basic certification path is intended for the volunteer who will assist working taxpayers with individual and family tax concerns. This certification path includes all the required training lessons for Basic.
- Intermediate
- The Intermediate course covers tax law as it applies to individuals and couples with more complex income issues. It includes all the Basic lessons, with additional lessons that address a wider range of tax law issues, for example, taxability of social security benefits, allowable adjustments, and simple self-employment activities.
- Advanced
- The Advanced course is designed for volunteers who will serve customers whose situations span the full VITA/TCE spectrum. It includes all the unique Basic and Intermediate lessons, plus more complex topics such as pension issues, sale of stock, and rental income and Schedule K-1s.
- Military
- The Military course introduces tax law that pertains to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and addresses their particular tax situations. Armed Forces members going overseas for VITA/TCE need to be certified in Military and International. It includes all the required lessons for certification.
- International
- The International course introduces tax law that pertains to U.S. citizens living abroad and addresses their particular tax situations. Volunteer tax return preparers going overseas for VITA/TCE must take the lessons in this course. It includes all the required lessons for certification.