Powering Nationwide Certification for the IRS Link & Learn Program
The Challenge
The IRS needed to modernize how required certification exams were delivered to a large, geographically distributed population of volunteer tax preparers.
The existing approach relied on legacy and semi-manual processes that limited scalability, reporting visibility, and administrative efficiency. The program required:
- Secure, rules-based online exam delivery
- Standardized administration across all states and territories
- Reliable capture of completion and certification data
- Infrastructure capable of handling significant seasonal surge traffic
- Improved reporting and analytics for program oversight
Adding complexity, the program operates on a compressed annual certification cycle aligned with tax season, with peak demand in January and February.
The Solution
KMI implemented and continues to support a scalable LMS solution powering the IRS Link & Learn Certification Program
Over the life of the engagement, KMI delivered:
Digital Exam Modernization
The original implementation moved certification exams fully online, enforcing exam rules consistently and enabling secure nationwide delivery at scale.
Platform Modernization
The system was later modernized from KMI’s earlier .NET architecture to its current Django + Angular platform, improving administrative workflows, reporting automation, and long-term maintainability.
Certification & Continuing Education Tracking
The LMS supports:
- Automated certificate generation
- Continuing education eligibility tracking
- Administrative approval workflows
- Reporting tied to rolling annual exam requirements
Advanced Reporting & Analytics
KMI’s API framework enables near real-time reporting integrations, supporting Power BI dashboards used by program leadership to monitor performance, trends, and outcomes.
Scale & Impact
Today, the platform supports:
- 857,000 registered users
- 128,000 active users annually
- 115,000+ learners trained each year
- 200+ courses (with new content added annually)
- 5,000+ concurrent users during peak season
- Nationwide deployment across states, territories, military bases, and diplomatic locations
The system has operated continuously for 13 years.
Seamless Continuity Across Contract Transitions
Since 2012, KMI has supported the program through three prime contractors:
- Epsilon Systems (2012–2020)
- Ekagra Partners (2020–2024)
- Arch Systems Inc. (2025–Present)
Despite competitive rebids and prime transitions, KMI has remained the consistent LMS delivery partner, maintaining uninterrupted service, preserving data integrity, and supporting peak-season operations without disruption.
This continuity reflects long-term stakeholder confidence in KMI’s reliability and performance.
Results
- Sustained growth in annual program participation
- Reduced administrative effort through automation
- Faster access to actionable reporting
- Stable performance during high-concurrency surge periods
- Improved user experience for a nationwide volunteer workforce
Client Feedback
Paul helped us get from what was a ‘headache’ to process to something so smooth and workable, it’s actually nice to deal with now. He has truly been a joy to work with.
Their strong dedication, reliability, and expertise have made a significant impact on the overall success of the project.