What is the AFSP? It is the Annual Filing Season Program. It is a voluntary program for tax preparers that encourages tax preparers to take continuing education.
For a person to get a certificate of completion from the IRS for having completed this program, they must complete the Annual Filing Tax Refresher (AFTR) and receive total 12 CE credits: 10 credit hours of continuing education in the area of general tax law along with 2 credits in ethics. The AFTR exam counts for 6 credits. All credits must be reported to the tax preparer’s PTIN by an approved continuing education provider.
A person seeking to successfully complete the Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) must complete all requirements listed above and renew their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) before the end of the calendar year.
There are several benefits that come with completing the requirements for the Annual Filing Season Program. Benefits include:
-The ability to speak to the IRS on behalf of your clients