Weekend/Evening Tax Preparer Training & Business Incubator Program
With the CARES Act, Federally Declared Disasters, and the pandemic, the 2022 Tax Season is going to be one of the most challenging tax seasons in recent years.
Now is the time to learn from a 25-year tax industry professional. Along with guidance and education of the many tax laws, you will also have the opportunity to enter the Tax Business Incubator program,
The Tax Preparer Training program offers automatic grading, feedback on your missed quiz questions, printable e-books conveniently located within each tax preparation course, and unlimited tries to pass the quizzes and final exam(s)*. Due to digital access to the content, no refunds are allowed.
Included with your purchase is an ebook and access to online quizzes & videos.
Our Tax Preparation Course is designed to give you the knowledge needed to fulfill IRS requirements and give you a basic understanding of tax law and practice to ensure you serve your clients with the highest quality. This study material has been organized to give line-by-line instructions for Form 1040.
Certificates of completion will be issued to those students achieving a 70% or better on the online homework with a 70% of attendance, however, it is highly recommended that all sessions be attended since the webinar is designed that one session leads to the next.
Additional courses are required to prepare taxes for California, Maryland, New York, and Oregon.
Each participant will have the opportunity to take the IRS AFSP CE 18 Hour exam. This exam is required for tax preparers who are considered non-exempt by the IRS. By participating in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program you will be included in the IRS’s public directory of tax return preparers.
Additionally, as a program participant, you have limited representation rights, you can represent your clients whose returns you have prepared and signed before an examination, customer service representatives, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service in the year you participate in the program. This guided online tax course is available to you for 6 months from the date of purchase.
*Note: In order to participate in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) you must complete the IRS AFSP 18 Hour CE tax course with AFTR by December 31st, regardless of your tax preparer course expiration date.
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The Tax Business Incubator program gives you access to professional tax software, EFIN assistance, in-season support and coaching, in-office and/or digital-office space, a revenue split of 70/30, and marketing support.
Additional training will be available for Tax Business Operations and Compliance in December for those interested in working for themselves for an additional fee.
FAQ's
What are the requirements to become a Tax Preparer?
The IRS requires all paid tax preparers to sign up with the IRS and obtain a preparer tax identification number (PTIN). All tax preparers will need to renew an existing PTIN annually.
What are the fees to obtain a PTIN?
For 2021, the IRS has set a $21 fee per PTIN application or renewal (plus a $14.95 fee payable to a contractor).
How do I become a California (CTEC) Registered Tax Return Preparer?
To become a Tax Preparer in California you must follow the state guidelines. The state of California requires all paid Tax Preparers to take and pass a California Registered Tax Preparer 60 hour Qualifying Tax Course as well as:
Pass a criminal background check and submit fingerprint images to CTEC
Obtain and maintain a $5,000 tax preparer bond
Obtain A Preparer Tax Identification Number
Register with the California Tax Education Council CTEC
Once you do this you will become a California Registered Tax Preparer CTRP. In addition, you will be required to complete 20 hours of continuing professional education annually.
How do I become an Oregon Licensed Tax Return Preparer?
The State of Oregon requires that individuals that prepare tax returns for compensation obtain a Tax Preparer License. The Tax Preparer License enables a person to lawfully prepare personal income tax returns in the State of Oregon. A tax preparer must work under the supervision of a Licensed Tax Consultant, a Certified Public Accountant, a Public Accountant, or an Attorney who prepares tax returns for their clients. The state of Oregon requires all paid Tax Preparers to complete an Oregon 80 hour Basic tax course and pass an exam (administered by the Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners). In order to become an Oregon Licensed Tax Preparer you must:
Be at least 18 years of age.
Be a high school graduate or have passed an equivalency examination.
Complete a minimum of 80 clock hours of basic income tax law education. Platinum Professional Services is approved by the Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners (OBTP) to offer a course that meets the Oregon 80 hour Basic Tax Course requirement.
Pass the tax preparer examination administered by the Tax Board with a 75% pass rate or higher.
Receive a certificate of completion of the 80-hour basic tax course must be submitted with your license application before your license will be issued (certificate issued by Platinum Professional Services)
Licensees are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education as a prerequisite to renewing their license each year.
What are the requirements in New York NY to become a Tax Preparer?
Per the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, the training requirements will be available in mid-November. https://www.tax.ny.gov/tp/reg/tpreg.htm
In general, you must register if you:
1. Will be paid to prepare at least one or more New York state returns or report, or
2. Will help to issue or administer a refund anticipation loan or refund anticipation check
You must pay a $100 registration fee if you are a commercial tax return preparer:
1. Will be paid to prepare at least one New York state tax return or report in the current calendar year and were paid to prepare 10 or more New York State tax returns in the previous calendar year, or
2. Will be paid to prepare 10 or more tax returns in the current calendar year
All commercial preparers who will prepare New York State personal income tax returns must complete continuing education requirements. Your status as a personal income tax preparer will be reflected on your registration certificate. Either 4-hour or 16-hour coursework must be completed through the state of New York. Please click here for more information on who is required to take 4 and 16 hours of continuing education.
After you register
Once you register online, you can print your Certificate of Registration, which includes your New York Tax Preparer Registration Identification Number (NYTPRIN). You can also log in and print the certificate later. You must include your NYTPRIN and your signature on signed tax returns or reports when required.
Who may be subject to penalties
Tax return preparers (including commercial tax return preparers) and facilitators who fail to:
1. Register or renew each year
2. Sign a New York State tax return or report or refund anticipation loan or refund anticipation check documentation when required
3. Include the New York Tax Preparer Registration Identification Number (NYTPRIN) on any New York State tax return or report when required, or on refund anticipation loan or refund anticipation check documentation that requires the facilitator’s signature
4. Ensure that tax return preparers they employ are registered
5. Commercial tax return preparers who fail to pay the annual fee
Credentialed New York tax preparers are not included in the list of those exempt from taking the 18 Hours of continuing education, including the 6-hour AFTR Course. Therefore in order for a tax preparer in New York to participate in the program they must take 18 hours of continuing education between June 1st and December 31st of every year.
Once you complete the IRS Continuing Professional Education Tax Course you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Platinum. Platinum will then report your completion to the IRS electronically. Once the tax preparer has met all three requirements for the Internal Revenue Service AFSP (renewed their PTIN, taken appropriate amount of continuing education, completed and passed the AFTR course/test if required), a record of completion will be available in the PTIN holder's online IRS account for printing. Any "unenrolled" preparer not already bound by Circular 230 will need to sign an agreement to follow sub-part b of Circular 230 before being able to print the certificate from the Internal Revenue Service. There will be no cost to the preparer for the AFSP record of completion. The IRS will then list AFSP tax preparers in their public database including the tax preparer's credentials.
What are the requirements in Maryland MD to become a Tax Preparer?
Maryland law requires that applicants for registration pass an examination, Section 21-302(e) of Title 16, Business Occupations and Professions, Annotated Code of Maryland. The cost of the Maryland Examination is $65. Those tax preparers who have taken and passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) exam given by the IRS do not have to take the Maryland exam, but must submit a copy of their RTRP certificate issued by the IRS or the letter of passing results as proof. The Maryland Examination is being administered by PSI Services, LLC. Information about how to schedule, pay for, and take the Maryland Exam may be found at the PSI Exams Online Website. This information is also provided in our course.