New Volunteer Orientation�(Counselors and Client Facilitators)

Tax Year 2025

AARP Foundation (AARP Tax Aide Program) Overview

• Free tax preparation and taxpayer assistance to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older
• Nation’s largest free, volunteer tax program
• 4th largest tax prep program, paid or free
• 1.7 Million clients served each year
• 27,700 Trained volunteers helping taxpayers in their communities
• 3,300 Sites nationwide conveniently located in neighborhood libraries, community and senior centers, medical facilities, and other places

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Why Volunteer?

• A great way to give back to the community
• Personal satisfaction from grateful clients
• Provide peace of mind to taxpayers
• Help people to:
• Save on tax preparation fees (average is $300)
• Claim eligible tax credits like EIC and CTC
• Complete tax returns accurately
• Link to other AARP services

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Program Overview

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District 5- 9 locations + 1 (Pearland West in 2026)

NTTC Training TY 2026

Site Hours

NTTC Training TY 2026

Our Team-District 5

• District Coordinator (1)
• District IT Coordinators (2)
• District Training Coordinator (1)
• Local Coordinators and Site Coordinators (15)
• Communications Coordinator (1)
• Tax Counselors (tax preparers) (85)
• Client Facilitators (22)

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NTTC Training TY 2026

District 5 Results for TY 2024

• 5,122 tax returns completed (7% increase from last year)
• 9% below record level in 2019
• All D5 sites outperformed previous season
• Volunteer level unchanged
• New volunteers offset attrition
• Largest and smallest sites in Texas by return volume
• Largest: Webster
• Galveston and Pasadena in the Texas top 10

NTTC Training TY 2026

All Tax-Aide Volunteers Training and Certification

• All Tax-Aide volunteers (Tax Counselors & Client Facilitators), must annually complete:
• AARP Training:
• Policies & Procedures
• Technology and Security
• Reimbursements (new volunteers only)
• IRS Certification:
• Volunteer Standards of Conduct
• Intake/Interview & Quality Review
• Advanced Certification (counselors only)
• Sign Volunteer Agreement – Form 13615

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Required Training, Certifications and Problems (cont.) -New Counselors Training Schedule

• Training daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
• January 8, 2026, Thursday
• January 9, 2026, Friday
• January 12, 2026, Monday
• January 13, 2026, Tuesday
• January 14, 2026, Wednesday
• Face-To-Face Instruction for all lessons (self-study available)
• Training Site: Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 West NASA Parkway, Webster, TX 77598
• Certification before January 24, 2026, Saturday

NTTC Training TY 2026

Client Facilitator Training

• When: January 16, 2026, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
• Where: Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 West NASA Parkway, Webster, TX 77598
• Training: Will be covered
• Certify: Complete VSOC (Conduct) and Intake Sheet tests same day of training Complete 2 online AARP training classes on the Volunteer Portal

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Required Training, Certifications and Problems� -Counselor Certifications

• Counselors
• Tax Law
• Basic
• Not required for Tax-Aide Counselors
• Advanced
• Required for all Tax-Aide Counselors

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Materials and Resources (Counselors Only)�AARP National Tax Training Committee (NTTC)

• NTTC Pub 4012
• Volunteer Resource Guide (IRS version at irs.gov-forms and instructions); Tax Aide version online at www.tx3d5.com)
• NTTC Pub 4491 (see irs.gov; Forms and Instructions)
• Volunteer Training Guide
• IRS Pub 17 (see irs.gov; Forms and Instructions)
• Federal Income Tax For Individuals
• IRS Link and Learn e-learning (https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/choose_path.jsp)
• IRS Forms and Publications applicable to training (see irs.gov)

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Materials and Resources (cont.) � -TaxSlayer Tax Software (Counselors Only)

• TaxSlayer Pro is the software
• TaxSlayer Practice Lab used for training

NTTC Training TY 2026

Volunteer Responsibilities� -Cast (All)�

• Client Facilitator (greeter and assign Taxpayers to Counselors)
• Counselor (tax preparer)
• Taxpayer(s)
• Quality Reviewer (second set of eyes)
• Electronic Returns Originator (ERO) (efiles tax returns)

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Volunteer Responsibilities (cont.)-� Local and Site Operations (all)

• Local and Site Coordinators responsible for the site operations including efiling tax returns.
• You will report to a Local or Site Coordinator.
• Each site will have a Client Facilitator

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Volunteer Responsibilities (cont.)-� Counselors

• Counselors
• Ensure certified to prepare the tax return
• Prepare returns for tax years you are certified in
• Don’t prepare returns for prior years if not certified
• First year counselors probably won’t be Quality Reviewers
• Interview taxpayers and ensure Intake Sheet is complete and documents within scope
• Ensure all tax documents have been entered into Taxslayer
• Ask taxpayers if any additional income or deductions

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Volunteer Responsibilities (cont.)-� Client Facilitators

• Complete Standards of Conduct and Intake Sheet Training and Certification
• Protect taxpayer’s confidentiality and security
• Be polite and helpful
• Do not give any tax advice
• Ensures Intake/Interview & Quality Review Sheet completed
• Places tax documents and Intake Sheet in a Tax Aide envelope
• Assigns the client to counselors based on certification
• Maintains the site activity log

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Volunteer Responsibilities (cont.) � Protection Act of 1997 (all)

• Certified volunteers not liable when:
• Received IRS/AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Training
• Action is not willful
• Act within scope of program and training
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide policies and procedures are followed

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NTTC Training TY 2026

Course Introduction

NTTC Training TY 2026

Questions?

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