I went through this exact same frustration last year! The VITA Link & Learn system is honestly terrible for self-learners. You're absolutely right that many sections are locked behind coordinator passwords - those are specifically for certified volunteers. What worked for me was combining a few different approaches: 1. Download IRS Publication 4491 (as Sophia mentioned) - it's the actual VITA training manual in PDF form 2. Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant for specific questions 3. Check out the AARP Tax-Aide materials which are similar to VITA but more accessible to the public The key thing I learned is that the IRS designed these volunteer programs with the assumption that you'd have a coordinator guiding you through the process. For independent learning, you're better off with the direct publications and tools. One tip for the Link & Learn site if you do continue using it: always right-click and "open in new tab" on any links to avoid losing your progress. The site architecture is from like 2005 and doesn't handle navigation well.

I actually went through the exact same frustration about 6 months ago! The VITA website is genuinely awful for self-directed learning. After weeks of hitting those same password walls and navigation nightmares, I found a much better approach. Here's what actually worked for me: 1. **IRS Publication 4012** (VITA/TCE Return Preparation Resource Guide) - This is even more comprehensive than Pub 4491 and includes practice scenarios 2. **IRS Publication 17** (Your Federal Income Tax) - The complete guide that covers everything a typical taxpayer needs to know 3. **Free File Fillable Forms** on IRS.gov - You can actually practice filling out tax forms with the official software The biggest breakthrough was realizing that the VITA program assumes you'll have an in-person coordinator walking you through everything. For independent learning, you're much better off with the direct IRS publications that don't have artificial access restrictions. Pro tip: The IRS also offers free webinars throughout tax season that cover many of the same topics as VITA training. Search "IRS tax professional webinars" and you can attend live or watch recordings. Much more engaging than fighting with that ancient website interface! You'll actually learn more this way than struggling with the VITA site, and you won't waste time on the volunteer-specific administrative stuff that doesn't apply to personal tax education.

I'm in week 6 of waiting after submitting Form 911 and honestly the anxiety is killing me. Reading everyone's experiences here really helps though - at least I know I'm not alone in this nightmare. @Michael your success story gives me hope that they will eventually come through! I've been documenting everything like you suggested and just pulled my transcripts yesterday. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else waiting - I called that TAS intake line (1-877-777-4778) last week and while they couldn't give me a timeline, they did confirm my case was received and assigned a number. The rep said to expect contact "within the next few weeks" which isn't super helpful but at least I know it's in the system. @Rami hang in there - I know how desperate you're feeling right now. The wait is brutal when you're facing financial pressure but based on what others are sharing, it seems like most people do eventually get help. Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us! 🤞

I'm about 2.5 weeks into waiting for TAS to contact me after submitting Form 911, and honestly this thread is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! 😅 It's helpful to see I'm not the only one dealing with these insane wait times, but wow - some of you have been waiting 6+ weeks which is just brutal. @Michael your timeline really gives me hope though! Knowing that once they do contact you things can move quickly (10 days for refund release!) makes the wait feel slightly more bearable. I'm definitely going to call that TAS intake line at 1-877-777-4778 that multiple people have mentioned - even just getting confirmation that my case is in the system would help with the anxiety. For anyone else in this waiting game, I've been keeping a detailed log of all my IRS interactions like some folks suggested, and it's actually been helpful for my own sanity to see everything documented. Also pulling transcripts while waiting seems like a smart move. @Rami I totally feel your desperation about the refund situation - the financial stress on top of the uncertainty is just awful. Hang in there and keep us posted if you hear anything! We're all rooting for each other in this mess! 🤞

This question comes up a lot! I recommend using the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool. Just google "IRS filing status tool" and it walks you through a series of questions to determine if you qualify for HOH. Much better than guessing or getting random advice online.

I work as a tax preparer and see this situation frequently. Yes, multiple people in the same physical address can absolutely claim Head of Household status as long as they each meet the requirements independently. The key is understanding that "household" for tax purposes doesn't mean the physical building - it refers to your financial responsibility for maintaining a home where you and your qualifying person live. Each parent supporting their own children can constitute a separate "household" even under one roof. For your cousin's situation, they should both be able to claim HOH if they each: - Are unmarried at year-end - Have qualifying children living with them more than half the year - Pay more than half the cost of keeping up their respective households The 50/50 split of shared expenses (utilities, rent/mortgage) is fine. They just need to track that each person's total contribution (their share of common expenses PLUS their children's individual expenses) exceeds half of what it costs to maintain their living situation. Keep good records and consider consulting a tax professional if the numbers are close, but this is definitely allowed by the IRS.

I went through this exact situation last year and here's what worked for me: First, document everything - save all your emails to the advocate with timestamps. Then call the TAS national line at 877-777-4778 and specifically ask to speak with your advocate's supervisor or the local TAS office manager. When I did this, I explained that I had a financial hardship deadline (similar to your tuition payment) and hadn't heard from my advocate in weeks. They immediately escalated my case and assigned a new advocate who called me within 2 business days. Don't try to go around the system by calling the IRS directly - it can actually hurt your case as others mentioned. The key is being persistent with TAS management and emphasizing your May 1st deadline. They take hardship cases seriously when you escalate properly through their chain of command.

I experienced a similar situation where my advocate went silent for over a month. Here's what I learned from my ordeal: The TAS system has built-in safeguards that many people don't know about. When you call 877-777-4778, ask specifically for a "case status review due to advocate non-responsiveness." This triggers a formal review process that typically results in either immediate advocate contact or case reassignment within 3-5 business days. For your May 1st deadline, emphasize this as an "economic hardship" when you call - the IRS has specific protocols for cases with approaching financial deadlines. Make sure to mention: - Your refund acceptance date (January 29th) - The advocate assignment date (March 15th) - Last contact date (March 18th) - Your documented attempts to reach the advocate (April 1st and 8th emails) - The specific hardship (tuition deadline) I also recommend checking your tax transcript before calling so you can reference any processing codes if asked. This shows you're informed about your case status and aren't just calling blindly. The key is being persistent but professional - frame it as needing help navigating the system rather than complaining about poor service. In my experience, TAS management takes these escalations seriously when presented properly.

Quick tip from someone who handles HSA compliance professionally - the "reasonableness" standard for excess contribution calculations means you won't get in trouble for small discrepancies. The IRS cares much more that you: 1) Remove the excess contribution before the deadline 2) Make a good faith effort to calculate earnings 3) Report the distribution correctly on your taxes Your method is certainly reasonable. I typically recommend simply using the overall account rate of return (total gains/losses divided by average balance) applied to the excess contribution amount.

Don't forget that when you withdraw excess HSA contributions, the earnings portion is taxable as "other income" in the year you make the withdrawal! I learned this the hard way. The excess contribution itself isn't taxed again if you already included it in income (which you would have if it was through your employer's payroll), but the earnings definitely are taxable.