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Deadline Nears for Return Preparers to Qualify for New IRS Program

  
News from the IRS
 
 

The IRS has begun issuing Records of Completion to tax return preparers who have met the requirements of a new voluntary program designed to help taxpayers determine return preparer qualifications in 2015.

Practitioners who want to receive a Record of Completion for the new IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) must complete the requirements before the end of the year. Because the process takes several steps, those interested are urged to get started no later than Dec. 15.

The AFSP Record of Completion allows uncredentialed return preparers who complete required continuing education (CE) to be included in a new IRS database for return preparers.

"This will be part of a wider effort at the IRS to help taxpayers understand the options available if they need help with their taxes during the upcoming filing season," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.

For 2015, the AFSP requires return preparers complete 11 hours of continuing professional education, which includes a six hour federal tax filing season refresher course, three hours of other federal tax law topics and two hours of ethical standards.

Credentialed return preparers (attorneys, Certified Public Accountants and Enrolled Agents) have already been licensed or certified by a state agency, the IRS or professional organization. They have unlimited representation rights before the IRS and may represent their clients on any matters including audits, payment or collection issues and appeals before any IRS office.

Preparers without any of the above credentials may have years of experience and have attended continuing education classes to be current on tax law. They may only represent clients whose returns they prepared and signed, but only before some IRS employees. Starting in 2016, AFSP Record of Completion recipients will be able to represent their clients before the IRS.

The AFSP will exempt registered tax return preparers and others who have successfully completed certain recognized national or state tests from the filing season refresher course that will be required for other participants.

A list of all IRS-approved CE providers offering qualifying courses through Dec. 31, 2014 is available online.

Consent to Circular 230 restrictions
As a prerequisite to receiving a record of completion, an individual will be required to consent to the duties and restrictions relating to practice before the IRS in subpart B and section 10.51 of Treasury Department Circular No. 230.

Modification to limited practice permissions
The pending guidance will also announce that effective for tax returns and claims for refunds prepared or signed after Dec. 31, 2015, only unenrolled tax return preparers who have a record of completion under the AFSP for the calendar year of preparation and the calendar year of representation will be permitted to represent taxpayers before the IRS during an examination of a return that they signed or prepared. 

More information here



#Credentials #NewsandInformation #IRS #IndividualIncomeTax #ProfessionalDevelopment
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