IRS Announces 2024 PTIN Renewal Period

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is urging nearly 800,000 active tax preparers to renew their Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) ahead of the upcoming filing season. If you prepare or assist in preparing federal tax returns for compensation, you must possess a valid PTIN and include it on any filed return or refund claim. Note that PTINs issued for 2023 will expire on December 31, 2023.

The PTIN renewal or application fee for 2024 is $19.75, comprising an $11 application charge and an $8.75 third-party contractor fee. This fee is non-refundable, and penalties may apply if you fail to have or use a valid PTIN.

Tax preparers with PTINs set to expire at the end of 2023 are advised to use the online renewal system, which typically takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can opt for the paper method, Form W-12, but this can take up to six weeks to process.

Join the Annual Filing Season Program

The IRS also introduces the Annual Filing Season Program, designed specifically for tax return preparers who aren’t classified as enrolled agents, attorneys, or CPAs. The program’s primary goal is to motivate these non-credentialed preparers to undertake continuing education, bolstering their expertise and ensuring they’re primed for the tax filing season.

To be a part of this initiative, participants are required to:

• Renew their PTIN.
• Complete a maximum of 18 hours of continuing education through IRS-sanctioned CE providers by December 31, 2023.
• Pledge to uphold the guidelines set forth in Treasury Department Circular 230, which dictates the practices before the IRS.

Upon fulfilling these criteria, participants will be awarded the Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion. They also earn a spot in the IRS’s esteemed public directory, which features tax return preparers who either have recognized credentials or have successfully finished the program.

This accessible directory on the IRS website serves as an essential resource for taxpayers, assisting them in locating proficient tax preparers in their locale.

For non-credentialed tax return preparers looking to advance in their profession, the IRS suggests exploring the opportunity to become an enrolled agent.

All enrolled agents, regardless of whether they prepare tax returns, must renew their PTIN annually to maintain their active status.