7/30/2019 IRS Publication 5021

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When can I call mysel an RTRP?When you have received an RTRP certifcate

rom the IRS. Be proud o the accomplishment

and reer to yoursel as a Registered Tax

Return Preparer on business cards, letterhead,

and websites. However, i you have any paid

advertising in print, television or radio, you

must include this disclaimer: “The IRS doesnot endorse any particular individual tax return

preparer. For more inormation on tax return

preparers, go to www.irs.gov.”

Did you know?It’s easy to stay in the know about tax

proessional issues. IRS’ website (www.irs.gov)

is a great resource. You may want to bookmark

these helpul pages:

• www.IRS.gov/taxpros • www.IRS.gov/ptin 

• www.IRS.gov/taxpros/ce 

• www.IRS.gov/taxpros/tests

You may also want to subscribe to IRS’

e-News for Tax Professionals or check

us out on social media:

• www.facebook.com/IRStaxpros 

• www.twitter.com/IRStaxpros 

• www.linkedIn.com/company/IRStaxpros

 About the ReturnPreparer OfceThe Return Preparer Ofce (RPO) was created in

2010 to provide oversight o the tax proessional

industry. In this capacity, RPO is responsible or

the administration o PTINs, competency testing,

suitability checks, and continuing education or

tax proessionals.

 About the Ofce o Proessional Responsibility 

The Ofce o Proessional Responsibility (OPR)

establishes and enorces consistent standards o

competence, integrity and conduct or Enrolled

 Agents, attorneys, CPAs, Registered Tax Return

Preparers, and other individuals and groups

covered by Treasury Department Circular 230.

What is Circular 230?

Circular 230 is the abbreviated name by which

Treasury Department regulations governing

practice beore the IRS are known. Circular 230

details the rules with which Registered Tax Return

Preparers and other tax proessionals must

comply. View Circular 230 at

www.irs.gov/taxpros.

Publication 5021 (Rev. 5-2012) Catalog Number 59582N

Department o the Treasury Internal Revenue Service

www.irs.gov

 A Guide to theRegistered

Tax Return

Preparer

Program

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Initial RTRP Requirements:

•Betest18yerso 

•ObtinPTIN 

•PssRTRPtest 

•Psstxcompincecheck

 Annual RTRP Requirements:

•RenewPTIN 

•Compete15hoursCE

 

The RTRP Test: Don’t WaitThe next step is to schedule an appointment

or the RTRP competency test. The test ee iscurrently $116.

Even though you have until December 31,

2013, to pass the test, the IRS encourages

you to take the test as soon as possible.

Waiting may result in difculty obtaining your

preerred location and time.

The test covers Form 1040 and ethical

responsibilities. The test vendor, Prometric

Inc., has 260 test sites nationwide. Use your

online PTIN account to schedule a date, time,

and location or the test. More inormation is

available at www.IRS.gov/tests.

 Annual CE RequirementI you are an RTRP or an RTRP candidate,

you must complete 15 hours o continuing

education annually beginning in 2012. This

must include 10 hours o ederal tax law,

3 hours o tax law updates and 2 hours o

ethics. You must take your courses rom

IRS-approved providers. More inormation is

available at www.IRS.gov/taxpros/ce.

Suitability ChecksCurrently, all tax return preparers are

subject to tax checks perormed by the

IRS. I additional background checks

are implemented, all aected tax return

preparers will be contacted directly and

provided instructions.

RTRPdEadlINE: All paid tax return preparers who currently have a PTIN and

are required to become an RTRP must pass the RTRP test no later than December

31, 2013. Beginning January 1, 2014, only RTRPs, attorneys, CPAs, and EAs will be

allowed to prepare Form 1040 series returns or compensation.

What is a Registered

Tax Return Preparer?

 A Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) is

a new designation or individuals who have

passed a test showing they are competent

to prepare Form 1040 returns and who have

passed tax compliance checks. RTRP’s must

adhere to ethical standards, take 15 hours o

continuing education each year, and have a

valid preparer tax identifcation number (PTIN)

to retain their status.

 

Who is required tobecome an RTRP? Anyone paid to prepare Form 1040 series

returns but who doesn’t hold certain

proessional credentials must become an

RTRP. Exempt are attorneys, Certifed Public

 Accountants (CPAs), and Enrolled Agents

(EAs). Non-1040 preparers and non-signing

preparers supervised by attorneys, CPAs, or

EAs in certain law and accounting frms also

are exempt.

How do I become a RTRP?The frst step is to obtain a preparer tax

identifcation number (PTIN) either online at

www.IRS.gov/ptin or by paper application

on Form W-12. The PTIN must be renewed

annually. The current ee amounts are $64.25

or the initial application and $63 or the

annual renewal.