How to get certified when doing tax for people? Which IRS website? please help??

Question

I don't know about this but my friend said in order to do volunteer tax for people we have to be certified by taking an exam on IRS website and I'm still confusing...anyone knows please help me..which IRS website do I have to go?? Can you give me a link? (I'm not talking about CPA exam at all).

Thanks so much for your help.

Answer 1

For the IRS VITA and TCE volunteer programs, you have to take and pass a test to be certified.

Answer 2

I was a VITA volunteer and instructor through a program run by AARP in my area.  It ran the classes and certified the volunteers.  Oddly, you don't have to be certified to prepare returns for pay except in Oregon and California (and soon in Maryland) but to do them for free in the program, you need certification.  Contact the IRS public affairs office closest to where you are to find out who to contact.  Classes are held in January and volunteers work one or two days a week from February to mid April