On Friday, January 18, the US District Court for the District of Columbia struck down the IRS’s registered tax return preparer program. They also enjoined the IRS from enforcing the return preparer regulations regarding the testing and continuing education requirements for tax return preparers.
The ruling does not affect the regulatory practice requirements for CPAs, attorneys, enrolled agents (EAs), enrolled retirement plan agents, or enrolled actuaries.
As a result of this ruling, the IRS has suspended all requirements for the registration, testing, and continuing education for registered tax return preparers effective immediately.
Therefore the IRS has:
- Stopped accepting renewals of PTINs
- Stopped accepting applications for new PTINs
- Will no longer allow preparers to schedule an appointment for the RTRP exam
- Made the continuing education requirement voluntary
To read more see the January 22 IRS Statement on Court Ruling Related to Return Preparers on the IRS website.
As soon as more information becomes available we will let you know.
