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Form 13615: Complete Guide to the IRS Intake/Interview & Quality Review Sheet

Tax season is stressful enough without sorting through dozens of obscure IRS forms, especially if you're using free volunteer-run tax prep services like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) or TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly). If you've ever visited one of these sites, you've likely been handed an intake form and asked to fill it out before meeting with a tax preparer.

While it may look like just another administrative checklist, this form is the backbone of accurate, compliant free tax prep. Filling it out correctly can mean the difference between getting your maximum eligible refund and facing unexpected IRS delays or penalties.

Important update: If you're searching for the taxpayer intake form, the IRS has repurposed Form 13615. It is now the Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement for volunteers, not taxpayers. The current taxpayer intake form is Form 13614-C, Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet. This guide covers the form you'll actually fill out as a taxpayer at a VITA or TCE site.

Table of Contents#

  1. What Is the VITA/TCE Intake Form, Exactly?
  2. Who Needs to Fill Out Form 13614-C?
  3. Key Sections of Form 13614-C (Line-by-Line Breakdown)
  4. How the Quality Review Process Uses Form 13614-C
  5. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Completing Form 13614-C
  6. Frequently Asked Questions About the VITA/TCE Intake Form

What Is the VITA/TCE Intake Form, Exactly?#

The form taxpayers complete at VITA and TCE sites is Form 13614-C, Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet. It is an official IRS document required for all returns prepared through VITA, TCE, and AARP Tax-Aide (the largest TCE partner) programs. It has two core purposes:

  1. Standardize the intake process to ensure volunteer preparers have complete, accurate information about your tax situation before they start working on your return
  2. Create a formal paper trail for the required IRS quality review process, which helps catch errors before your return is filed.

The most recent version of Form 13614-C (Rev. 10-2025) is provided for free at all volunteer tax prep sites, or available for download in advance from the IRS website. All VITA/TCE volunteers must pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards, and every return undergoes a mandatory quality review before filing.

Who Needs to Fill Out Form 13614-C?#

You only need to complete Form 13614-C if you are using free volunteer-run IRS tax preparation services. You qualify for these programs if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Your household income is $69,000 or less
  • You are 60 years of age or older
  • You have a disability
  • You have limited English proficiency

You do not need to fill out Form 13614-C if you are self-filing your taxes or working with a paid tax preparer.

Key Sections of Form 13614-C (Line-by-Line Breakdown)#

The form is split into several sections across five pages, plus an optional consent form for data carry-forward:

Page 1: Taxpayer Identification & Contact Information#

This section verifies your identity and basic tax filing status:

  • Full legal name, date of birth, job title for you and your spouse
  • Mailing address, phone number, and email (optional)
  • Whether you lived or worked in two or more states during the tax year
  • Citizenship and visa status, student status, disability status
  • Refund preference (direct deposit or check) and payment method if you owe

Note: You will be required to show government-issued photo ID and SSN/ITIN cards for all people listed on this form to confirm your identity.

Page 1 (continued): Dependents & Household Members#

List everyone who lived with you (except your spouse) and anyone you supported but did not live with. You'll provide:

  • Names, dates of birth, and relationship to you
  • Number of months they lived in your home
  • Citizenship and residency status
  • Whether they qualify as your dependent for tax purposes

Page 2: Income Questions#

This section covers all income streams you may have received during the tax year, including:

  • Wages (W-2), tips, and retirement distributions
  • Social Security, Railroad Retirement, and unemployment benefits
  • Interest, dividends, and investment sales
  • Alimony, rental income, gambling winnings, and self-employment income
  • Digital assets (cryptocurrency)
  • Any other money received during the year

Volunteers will cross-check your answers against your W-2s, 1099s, and other supporting documents.

Page 3: Expenses, Deductions & Life Events#

Questions cover deductible expenses and significant tax-related events:

  • Mortgage interest, state/local taxes, medical expenses, and charitable contributions (for itemizing)
  • Student loan interest, child care costs, retirement contributions, and educator expenses
  • Life events: education classes, home sale, health insurance through the Marketplace, energy-efficient home improvements, debt cancellation, and federal disaster losses
  • Prior year issues: disallowed credits, IRS notices, and estimated tax payments

Page 4: Optional Demographic Information#

This section is for statistical purposes only and is not transmitted with your tax return. You are not required to answer. Questions cover:

  • English language proficiency
  • Disability status
  • Veteran status
  • Race and ethnicity (optional for you and your spouse)

Page 5: Additional Notes/Comments#

Space for any additional information not covered elsewhere on the form.

This optional form allows your tax return data to be carried forward to any VITA/TCE site using TaxSlayer software in future filing seasons, saving you time if you return next year.

How the Quality Review Process Uses Form 13614-C#

IRS rules require all VITA/TCE returns to go through a mandatory quality review before filing:

  1. The preparer cross-references every line of your draft return against the answers you provided on Form 13614-C and your supporting documents
  2. A second, independent quality reviewer repeats the process, and flags any discrepancies (e.g. unreported income, missing deductions) to be clarified with you before the return is filed

This process is designed to eliminate errors, ensure you receive all eligible credits, and reduce your risk of an IRS audit. If the reviewer identifies a mismatch with your Form 13614-C answers, they will pull you back in to clarify the information before filing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Completing Form 13614-C#

  1. Forgetting to report all income streams: Even side gig income under $600, cash tips, or temporary unemployment benefits must be reported to avoid IRS penalties.
  2. Skipping questions you think don't apply: Many taxpayers miss out on thousands of dollars in EITC or CTC benefits because they assumed they didn't qualify and skipped related questions.
  3. Leaving out dependent information: You must provide SSNs, dates of birth, and proof of residency for all dependents to claim related credits.
  4. Not bringing matching supporting documents: Volunteers cannot prepare your return if you don't bring W-2s, 1099s, or other documents to confirm the information you entered on the form.
  5. Forgetting to report digital assets: The form asks whether you owned or held any digital assets (such as cryptocurrency) during the tax year. Failing to report this can trigger IRS scrutiny.
  6. Not answering questions about life events: Changes like marriage, divorce, home purchases, or education expenses can affect your credits and deductions significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions About the VITA/TCE Intake Form#

Q: Do I have to pay to get Form 13614-C?#

A: No, the form is completely free. You can pick up a copy at your local VITA/TCE site, or download it in advance from the IRS website to fill out before your appointment to save time.

Q: Is Form 13614-C submitted to the IRS with my tax return?#

A: No, the form is kept on file at the VITA/TCE site for 3 years for audit and quality review purposes. You do not need to send a copy to the IRS when your return is filed.

Q: What if I make a mistake on Form 13614-C after I submit it?#

A: Notify your volunteer preparer immediately, and they will correct the form before preparing your return. If you notice the mistake after your return is filed, you can return to the VITA/TCE site to amend your return for free.

Q: How long should I keep my copy of Form 13614-C?#

A: Keep it with your other tax records for 3 years, the standard IRS audit window for individual tax returns.

Q: What happened to Form 13615?#

A: Form 13615 has been repurposed by the IRS. It is now the Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement – VITA/TCE Programs, a form that volunteers sign to certify their ethical commitments. The taxpayer intake form you're looking for is Form 13614-C.

References#

  1. U.S. Internal Revenue Service. (2025). Form 13614-C: Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet (Rev. 10-2025). Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13614c.pdf
  2. U.S. Internal Revenue Service. (2025). Form 13615: Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement – VITA/TCE Programs (Rev. 10-2025). Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13615.pdf
  3. U.S. Internal Revenue Service. (2025). Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers
  4. U.S. Internal Revenue Service. (2025). Publication 4961: VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4961.pdf
2026-07

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