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Annual Filing Season Program Window | June 1 – December 31
Start earning your Record of Completion now and become eligible to be listed in the official database for 2022.
We report completion directly to the IRS for you!
Earn your Record of Completion by completing your 15 required hours of Continuing Education (CE).
We report completion directly to the IRS for you!
Who is exempt and does not need to complete AFTR?
Learn about the IRS requirements for exemption.
AFSP is the voluntary program of the IRS that aims to recognize the efforts of non-credentialed return preparers who aspire to a higher level of professionalism.
The Annual Filing Season Program also allows tax return preparers to be listed in an official IRS database alongside other practitioners with recognized credentials and qualifications, such as CPAs, attorneys, and Enrolled Agents. This database is set up to educate consumers who utilize tax preparers to complete their returns and provides them with assurance that the tax preparers listed are up-to-date on current tax laws and have met certain educational requirements.
Tax return preparers who earn the Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion will enjoy continued representation rights. As of January 1, 2016, only tax preparers who have received a Record of Completion are eligible to represent their clients before the IRS.
Learn more in our blog!
The Annual Filing Season Program aims to recognize the efforts of non-credentialed tax return preparers who aspire to a higher level of professionalism.
AFSP participants are included in a public database of return preparers on the IRS website. In addition, the IRS launched a public education campaign in January 2015 encouraging taxpayers to select return preparers carefully and seek those with professional credentials or other select qualifications.
Annual Filing Season Program participants will have limited representation rights; meaning they can represent clients whose returns they prepared and signed, but only before revenue agents, customer service representatives, and similar IRS employees (including the Taxpayer Advocate Service). PTIN holders without an AFSP – Record of Completion will only be permitted to prepare tax returns. They will not be allowed to represent clients before the IRS.
Learn more in our blog!
To receive a Record of Completion from the IRS, you must take 18 hours of continuing education from IRS-Approved CE Providers, including
Yes, the Annual Filing Season Program must be completed yearly to maintain recognition.
Courses must be completed by midnight (customer’s local time), December 31st of the current calendar year in order for the IRS to recognize your credentials for the following year.
Most first-time PTIN applicants can obtain a PTIN online in about 15 minutes. There is no fee for obtaining or renewing your PTIN. First, you must create an account. Go to the IRS PTIN System and click on the link under “New User” to create an account. Follow the prompts to complete the account setup process.
First, log in to your online PTIN account. On the Main Menu, next to “PTIN Renewal”, click on “Select” and then follow the prompts to complete your online renewal.
Go to the IRS PTIN System. On the top left side of the page under “Returning User”, enter your User ID and Password in the designated fields. Then click “Sign In”. If you are having trouble remembering your User ID or Password, click on the appropriate link.
When PTIN renewal season begins in October, a Record of Completion will be generated by the IRS once all requirements have been met, including renewal of your PTIN for 2022 and consent to the Circular 230 obligations.
Those who passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer test are exempt from the 6 hour federal tax law refresher course with test. To receive the AFSP – Record of Completion, they must complete 15 hours of continuing education in tax related subjects from IRS-approved CE Providers.
No. Gleim reports them for you as long as you provide your PTIN prior to course completion.
Credits are electronically reported to the IRS every Tuesday provided you entered your PTIN number prior to course completion.
