Opportunities From: United Way of Central Jersey

January 2026 Tax Session _ Basic Level (Virtual) Training     

Please join the session Jan 21, 7:00pm
Topic: United Way Central Jersey's Zoom - Virtual Tax Workshop

Time: Jan 21, 2026, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Every week on Mon, Wed, until Jan 28, 2026, 3 occurrence(s)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82888577314?pwd=K2rRDIvwebipa95epUab8zTXzbD7bj.1

Meeting ID: 828 8857 7314
Passcode: 756938
                              _____________________

Final Tax Session (Virtual)Workshops: 7:00PM - 9:00PM                                         

This session will get participants started with using the online resources (guided) to complete their certification. Be sure to attend all three workshops: Part 1, 2 & 3 to complete your training.  

January 21 Part 1  January 26: Part 2January 28: Part 3

Pre-requisites!

1. Complete this Intake Form with your personal information: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13614c.pdf

2. Create a Practice Lab account: https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining/en/Account/Access

    Password: TRAINPROWEB (case sensitive).

     • Program: VITA

     • SIDN (leave blank)

     • Proceed to set up your account. (write your passwords down)
3. Complete your VSOC Online Training (p4961.pdf).

Note well: Volunteering is IN-PERSON unless a credential tax return preparer (CPA, Enrolled Agent, Attorney or an experienced VITA Preparer (Advanced Certified with 3+ years)

Study Resources:Pub 4012 (VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4012.pdfPub 6744 (Test booklet): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f6744.pdfPub 4491 (VITA/TCE Training Guide): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491.pdf Each year United Way of Central Jersey helps complete hundreds of free tax returns for people in need through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, resulting in thousands of dollars kept in our communities. The Middlesex County NJ VITA Coalition is recruiting additional volunteers in various capacities to help with this effort. Volunteers are being asked to complete certifications by the end of December, and to be ready to start from February 1,2026 through April 30, 2026.Volunteers may volunteer at any one or more of our community host sites in New Brunswick, Jamesburg, North Brunswick, Highland Park, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Sayreville, Carteret, South Amboy. Freehold, Asbury Park or Milltown to provide this invaluable service. TAX PREPARER: Prepare Federal & State tax returns for electronic e-filing. Certifications required: 1. Ethics Test (open book) 2. Intake/Interview & Quality Review Test (open book) 3. Basic Level Certification Test (open book)                                                      

Place: Monmouth County Human Services

Address:  3000 Kozloski Road (3rd floor computer lab)

Freehold, NJ 07728

Monmouth County (In-Person) Tax Training                                    

January 5 update: New, different dates have now been confirmed. Please see below. We'll work with you if not able to attend all 3 sessions in the same week.

Workshop: 10:00AM - 1:30PM 

It is important to attend all three workshops to complete the full training.

January 27: Part 1

January 28: Part 11

January 29: Part 111

LinkLearn Page: VITA/TCE Central your one-stop shop for volunteer training

Pdfs links of study resource materials are below:

Publication 6744: VITA/TCE Volunteer Assistor's Test/Retest: f6744.pdf

Publication 4491: VITA/TCE Training Guide: p4491.pdf: p4491.pdf

Publication 4012: VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide: p4012.pdf

Prerequisite: 

All registrants are being asked to complete the following two (2) online trainings before the workshop meets on January 13th. 

1. Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) training (Ethics)

Link to Publication 4961, Ethics training: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4961.pdf

2. Intake Interview & Quality Review training:

Link to Publication 5101, Intake Interview & Quality Review training:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5101.pdf

 
Workshop Location in Freehold:

3000 Kozloski Road, Freehold NJ 07728

Computer Room on the 3rd floor

United Way of Central Jersey: Phone Contact: 732 247 3727 X 216 (cell 732 239 6696)

Email contact: crodriguez@uwcj.org

Each year United Ways and other non-profits help their community by completing thousands of free tax returns, for people in need through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, resulting in thousands of dollars being kept in our communities. United Way of Central Jersey in collaboration with a host of Monmouth County community partners are recruiting additional volunteers in various capacities to help with this effort. Training is provided to assist volunteers with completing the required certifications. The sites anticipated opening dates are from February 7, 2025 - March 25, 2025 (weekly on Tuesday)Volunteers will volunteer at any one of two sites: the Community Affairs Resource Center (CARC) in Freehold and/or the Launch Center in Asbury Park to provide this valuable service.

Income Tax Preparer / Quality Reviewer: (Prepare federal & state tax returns for electronic e-file)

Certifications required (3)

1. Ethics test (open-book test)

2. Intake/Interview module (open-book test)

3. Advanced level Certification (open-book test)

 

January 2026 Tax Training _ Nuts & Bolts (In-Person)       Workshops: 10:00AM - 2:00PM                                         

This session is fast paced to get participants started with using the online resources (guided) to complete their certification. This session is limited to only 14 volunteers.

Participants should not register if doing the required homework may be an issue. 

**For volunteers new to VITA - who have not attended a prior Tax Training Session in October, November or December 2025!

Workshop Location: United Way Central Jersey32 Ford Avenue, Milltown NJ 08850

From the parking lot entrance, use the ramp to the left of the stairs ... take the elevator to the 2nd floor computer room.

Be sure to attend both workshops: Part 1 & 2 to complete your training.   January 16 Part 1  January 23: Part 2
All study resources/handouts will be provided at your first session from the following publications:*Pub 4012 (VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide)*Pub 6744 (Test booklet)*Pub 4491 (VITA/TCE Training Guide)  Each year United Way of Central Jersey helps complete hundreds of free tax returns for people in need through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, resulting in thousands of dollars kept in our communities. The Middlesex County NJ VITA Coalition is recruiting additional volunteers in various capacities to help with this effort. Volunteers are being asked to complete certifications by the end of December, and to be ready to start from February 1,2026 through April 30, 2026.Volunteers may volunteer at any one or more of our community host sites in New Brunswick, Jamesburg, North Brunswick, Highland Park, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Sayreville, Carteret, South Amboy. Freehold, Asbury Park or Milltown to provide this invaluable service. TAX PREPARER: Prepare Federal & State tax returns for electronic e-filing. Certifications required: 1. Ethics Test (open book) 2. Intake/Interview & Quality Review Test (open book) 3. Advanced level Certification Test (open book)                                                      

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Self-Certifiers:

Volunteers will complete certification on their own. Volunteers will receive a check-in call, text or email periodically.

Please register here if unable to attend In-Person training and will commit to use the Online Resources to complete your certifications. Various Online links are below for your convenience. Feel free to contact us for any guidance.

VITA/TCE Central Page: https://www.linklearncertification.com/d/   

Proceed to the Subject dropdown area to select your tests.

The first test would be your VSOC, Volunteer Standards of Conduct.

The second test would be your Intake Interview & Quality Review.

The third would be your Certification level (Basic or Advanced).

Note well. Volunteers can go directly to the Advanced level. There is no need to do the Basic level first. You will have 2 chances to pass each test. The passing score is 80%. If you did not succeed on the first try, please reach out to us before making your 2nd attempt.

We would like you to have your certifications ready for us by January 24, 2026. 

The tests questions are exactly the same you will see Online at the Testing site as in the blue Test booklet 6744.

Study guide/s: Please use these.

Basic: Study Guide BASIC TY2025 in 2026.pdf - Google Drive

Advanced: Study Guide Advanced TY2025 in 2026.pdf - Google Drive

Practice Lab returns outcomes: Tax Year 2025 Scenarios results for the Practice Lab returns.

                                                ___________________________________

2025 Tax Year: Online Resources

Publication 4491: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491.pdf Publication 4012: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4012.pdf Publication 6744: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f6744.pdf

                                                ______________________________________________

VITA/TCE Central Page: https://www.linklearncertification.com/d/     

OR Google search for “Link Learn”   

 

PRACTICE LAB

Create/Set up (New Volunteers), or Access an existing account (Prior VITA Volunteers) in Practice Lab for tax return practice: https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining/en/Account/Access:

Practice Lab is located under the Quick Links

·         Password: TRAINPROWEB (case sensitive) Generic Password Access for all volunteers

·         Program: VITA.

·         SIDN (leave blank)

·         Proceed to set up your account. (write these down)

              ___________________________________________

**Additional Online Study Resources: United Way VITA Resources Collaboration Learning. This site is interactive with video lessons and exercises. 

https://www.vitaresources.net/

                                                                                            ____________________________________________

Best,
Charmaine Rodriguez | VP Financial Stability | United Way of Central Jersey

32 Ford Avenue, Milltown, NJ  08850 | Tel: 732-247-3727 Ext 216

www.uwcj.org Email: crodriguez@uwcj.org

                                                 _____________________________________
 
Millions of low-to-moderate-income taxpayers rely on free, basic tax preparation each year, and thousands of ordinary VITA volunteers like you prepare these returns! The United Way of Central Jersey (UWCJ) needs you on its tax prep team for 2026! Last season 148 volunteers including 85 students (college and high school) were among our certified preparers that participated in this critical asset-building engagement. Collectively over 4,000 returns were prepared. The results - Over $2.5 million in refunds returned to taxpayers in the community in the form of credits and refunds. Volunteers saved taxpayers collectively over $600,000 in tax preparation fees.  United Way of Central Jersey teams up with the IRS and community partners each year to provide free tax services through VITA. United Way and its collaborators are the leading providers of volunteer income tax assistance in Middlesex County. "This service is aimed at low and moderate-income taxpayers," said Gloria Aftanski, President of United Way of Central Jersey.  The IRS partners with United Way to direct a coalition of community partners in order to increase the reach of the VITA. The Middlesex County, NJ VITA Coalition is recruiting new/additional volunteers in various capacities to help with this effort. Volunteers must complete certification timely and be ready to start by February 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026. United Way of Central Jersey is located at 32 Ford Avenue in Milltown NJ 08850

Certifications requirements: Ethics Certification Intake/Interview & Quality Review Certification Advance Level Certification   
Contact Charmaine at crodriguez@uwcj.org or call 732 247 3727 X 216 

Requirements:

Attend workshop training on tax software Complete & Certify for the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSOC) / Ethics Test: VSOC Online Training (p4961.pdf .Certify on the IRS site: https://www.linklearncertification.com/d/ Commit a minimum of 2-3 hours weekly during the tax filing season (February 1 - April 15, 2026)                                                  ____________________________

Tax Software Coaches - Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program (VITA) 2026 Filing Season

Community Tax Preparation - Volunteers needed to assist individuals & college students with Self-Filing in Middlesex County, NJ

United Way Central Jersey will provide FREE training for all volunteers interested in participating in the 2026 annual filing season.

Requirements:Attend workshop training on tax software on Dec 29thComplete & Certify for the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSOC) / Ethics Test:                       VSOC Online Training (p4961.pdf Certify on the IRS site: https://www.linklearncertification.com/d/Commit a minimum of 2-3 hours weekly during the tax filing season (February 1 - April 15, 2025)Volunteers will use techniques learned during training to assist others with filing simple tax returns. Hands-on training will be provided in navigating Taxslayer, and Myfreetaxes  professional tax software.Each year United Ways and other non-profits help their community by completing thousands of free tax returns, for people in need through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, resulting in thousands of dollars being kept in our communities. United Way of Central Jersey in collaboration with a host of Middlesex County community partners are recruiting volunteers in various capacities to help with this effort.
Millions of low-to-moderate-income taxpayers rely on free, basic tax preparation each year, and thousands of ordinary persons just like you can assist! The United Way Central Jersey (UWCJ) and the community would welcome your participation in the 2026 filing season! United Way Central Jersey teams up with the IRS and community partners each year to provide free tax services through VITA. United Way and its collaborators are the leading providers of volunteer income tax assistance in Middlesex County. "This service is aimed at low and moderate-income taxpayers," said Gloria Aftanski, President of United Way Central Jersey.  The IRS partners with United Way to direct a coalition of community partners in order to increase the reach of the VITA. We are located at 32 Ford Avenue in Milltown NJ 08850 Volunteer Position:Assist individuals (Self-Filers) with the navigation of the tax software Provide basic guidance on the software next stepsAnswer basic questions and/or direct users to the research/guidance that will help them solve their questions.Positions on the Middlesex College campus (New Brunswick, Edison & Perth Amboy)
Contact Charmaine at crodriguez@uwcj.org or call 732 247 3727 X 216 

United Way of Central Jersey: Phone Contact: 732 247 3727 X 216 

Email contact: crodriguez@uwcj.org