Due to previously scheduled maintenance on IRS systems, the PTIN system will be unavailable for NEW applications from 5:00 PM ET on Friday, December 23 until approximately 9:00 AM ET on Monday, January 9. Preparers are still able to renew existing PTINs during this window. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

The IRS has their preparers test in place and is now scheduling for preparers to take the examination.  To avoid having to take the examination prior to Dec 31st, 2013 preparers must act soon.  2011 PTINs expire on December 31st, 2011, and are now scheduled to expire on the close of each calender year going [...]

PTIN renewal for the coming tax season is now available.  The 2011 system was made operational October 20th.  All paid tax return preparers must obtain or renew Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). If you have a PTIN that was issued in 2010, the renewal fee is $63.00.  If you are applying for the first time, [...]

Provisional PTINs: available through 4/18/2012.  This means that you WILL be able to get a PTIN prior to completing the preparers examination up to this date.  If you already have a PTIN, you will need to renew that PTIN for a fee of $64.25 after October 15th, 2011 for the coming tax season.  You will [...]

For anyone who has not heard the deadline for avoiding having to take the RTRP Examination until December 2013 is October 1st.  Federal Direct can assist you get your PTIN now, but if you delay, you will experience multiple additional charges and an examination before you can preparer taxes this year!  If you do not [...]

The IRS issued notice that Tax Preparers who have already been issued a PTIN (preparers tax identification number) will have up until December 31st, 2013, to complete their testing requirement.  The test will be administered at over 260 Prometric locations across the US, and will be partially “open-book”.  The testing facilities will provide copies of [...]

The IRS has began sending letters to about 100,000 tax return preparers who either used outdated PTINs or used social security numbers instead of a PTIN when filing returns this past tax season. The letters explain the new oversight program, inform preparers of how to register for a new PTIN, or renew an old PTIN, [...]

Tax Preparers were required to get a Preparer Tax Identification Number last tax season.  Those PTINs were initially scheduled to expire one year, to the day, from when they were issued.  That time frame has been changed by the IRS, now all PTINs will expire on 12/31 of the following year.  This translates to anyone [...]

The IRS is moving forward with implementing their testing requirement for tax preparers and they have stated that this will be in place for this coming 2011 tax season, starting January 2012.  One way to postpone having to take the preparer competency examination is to have your PTIN issued prior to the IRS implementing the [...]

One of the requirements for the new PTIN registration process is to be in tax compliance for both business and personal tax filings.  This means that you must have filed your tax returns and if you owe, you must have contacted the IRS and entered into a payment arrangement program.  In short, if you want [...]