Attention EA exam candidates! The IRS has announced that exam-takers who take their EA exams now will NOT receive their test scores immediately upon completion of the examination. They will get their test scores e-mailed to them later,  (the IRS is using exam results to "analyze" candidate responses).

However, this is only temporary--beginning August 2, 2021, exam-takers will receive their exam scores immediately after completing their exams. See official details on the Prometric website: https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/search/irs

1. How many continuing education hours must enrolled agents obtain?

Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing education every three years. A minimum of 16 hours must be earned per year, two of which must be on ethics. Enrolled agents must use an IRS approved CE provider.

2. I applied during an enrollment cycle, how many continuing education credits must I complete?

If your initial enrollment occurs during an enrollment cycle, you are required to complete 2 hours of qualifying continued education credits per month AND 2 hours of ethics or professional conduct credits per year. When your new enrollment cycle begins, you will be required to satisfy the full 72-hour continuing education credit requirement.

3. I was unable to complete the minimum continuing education credits required during an enrollment cycle, due to extenuating circumstances.

Refer to Section 10.6(j) of Treasury Department Circular 230 to determine if you meet the qualifications to request a waiver of continuing education requirements.

4. What are the recordkeeping requirements for EAs?

Tax Preparers must retain the following records for four years:

1. 1. The name of the CE Provider organization;
   2. The location of the program;
   3. The title of the program, approval number received for the program, and copy of the program content; Written outlines, course syllabi, textbook, and/or electronic materials provided or required for the program;
   4. The date(s) attended;
   5. The credit hours claimed; The name(s) of the instructor(s), discussion leader(s), or speaker(s), if appropriate; and
   6. The certificate of completion and/or signed statement of the hours of attendance obtained from the continuing education provider

Victims of winter storms in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana will have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced. Links to the official extension and IRS disaster declarations for all three states are listed below:

Texas disaster declaration: TX-2021-02

Louisiana disaster declaration: LA-2021-02

Oklahoma disaster declaration: OK-2021-01

Affected individuals and businesses will have until June 15, 2021, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period. This includes 2020 individual and business returns normally due on April 15, as well as various 2020 business returns due on March 15. Among other things, this also means that affected taxpayers will have until June 15 to make 2020 IRA contributions. The June 15 deadline also applies to quarterly estimated income tax payments due on April 15 and the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on April 30. It also applies to tax-exempt organizations, operating on a calendar-year basis, that have a 2020 return due on May 17. Following the disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the IRS is providing this relief to the entire state of Texas. But taxpayers in other states impacted by these winter storms that receive similar FEMA disaster declarations will automatically receive the same filing and payment relief. The current list of eligible localities is always available on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.

Highlights of Tax Changes from a Tax Forms Perspective

This free 100-minute webinar is open to All.

This webinar will cover the following:

• Knowledge of major income tax changes for tax year 2020
• Knowledge of major tax form changes from 2019 to 2020
• Knowledge of new tax forms for tax year 2020
• Plus, Q & A

Continuing Education: All participants who qualify will receive a Certificate of Completion. Tax Professionals: Earn up to 2 CE Credits. Category: Federal Tax.

Closed captioning will be offered.

Registration: To register, please visit https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/39741.https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/39741

Sponsored By: IRS Stakeholder Liaison

Date: February 2, 2021

Time: 2 p.m. (ET), 1 p.m. (CT), 12 p.m. (MT), 11 a.m. (PT), 8 a.m. (Hawaii)

Keys to Mastering Due Diligence Requirements and Audits

This free 100-minute webinar is open to All.

This webinar will cover the following:

• Review paid preparer due diligence requirements
• Discuss due diligence documentation requirements
• Describe IRS due diligence contact methods
• Explain the due diligence audit process
• Provide paid preparers online educational resources
• Plus, Q & A

Continuing Education: All participants who qualify will receive a Certificate of Completion. Tax Professionals: Earn up to 2 CE Credits. Category: Federal Tax.

Closed captioning will be offered.

Registration: To register, please visit https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/39505

Sponsored By: IRS Stakeholder Liaison

Date: February 4, 2021

Time: 2 p.m. (ET), 1 p.m. (CT), 12 p.m. (MT), 11 a.m. (PT), 8 a.m. (Hawaii)

Prometric has updated the IRS EA exam specs for the new testing cycle:

TEST SPECS: For examinations delivered between May 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022

• Part 1 – Individuals
• Part 2 – Businesses
• Part 3 – Representation, Practices and Procedures

Track change versions (to see changes from the previous year)

• Part 1 – Individuals
• Part 2 – Businesses
• Part 3 – Representation, Practices and Procedures

See comparison chart for the new domain weightings for each part of the 2021-2022 exam.

Issue Number: IR-2021-16

2021 tax filing season begins Feb. 12, 2021

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation's tax season will start on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns.

The Feb. 12 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to do additional programming and testing of IRS systems following the Dec. 27 tax law changes that provided a second round of Economic Impact Payments and other benefits.

This programming work is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. If filing season were opened without the correct programming in place, then there could be a delay in issuing refunds to taxpayers. These changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.

To speed refunds during the pandemic, the IRS urges taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit as soon as they have the information they need. People can begin filing their tax returns immediately with tax software companies, including IRS Free File partners. These groups are starting to accept tax returns now, and the returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting Feb. 12.

“Planning for the nation’s filing season process is a massive undertaking, and IRS teams have been working non-stop to prepare for this as well as delivering Economic Impact Payments in record time,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Given the pandemic, this is one of the nation’s most important filing seasons ever. This start date will ensure that people get their needed tax refunds quickly while also making sure they receive any remaining stimulus payments they are eligible for as quickly as possible.”

Last year’s average tax refund was more than $2,500. More than 150 million tax returns are expected to be filed this year, with the vast majority before the Thursday, April 15 deadline.

Under the PATH Act, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds and claims from being issued, including to identity thieves.

The IRS anticipates a first week of March refund for many EITC and ACTC taxpayers if they file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns. This would be the same experience for taxpayers if the filing season opened in late January. Taxpayers will need to check Where’s My Refund for their personalized refund date.

Overall, the IRS anticipates nine out of 10 taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically with direct deposit if there are no issues with their tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically. To avoid delays in processing, people should avoid filing paper returns wherever possible.

Tips for taxpayers to make filing easier

To speed refunds and help with their tax filing, the IRS urges people to follow these simple steps:

• File electronically and use direct deposit for the quickest refunds.
• Check IRS.gov for the latest tax information, including the latest on Economic Impact Payments. There is no need to call.
• For those who may be eligible for stimulus payments, they should carefully review the guidelines for the Recovery Rebate Credit. Most people received Economic Impact Payments automatically, and anyone who received the maximum amount does not need to include any information about their payments when they file. However, those who didn’t receive a payment or only received a partial payment may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.  Tax preparation software, including IRS Free File, will help taxpayers figure the amount.
• Remember, advance stimulus payments received separately are not taxable, and they do not reduce the taxpayer’s refund when they file in 2021.

Key filing season dates

There are several important dates taxpayers should keep in mind for this year’s filing season:

• Jan. 15. IRS Free File opens. Taxpayers can begin filing returns through Free File partners; tax returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting Feb. 12. Tax software companies also are accepting tax filings in advance.
• Jan. 29. Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day to raise awareness of valuable tax credits available to many people – including the option to use prior-year income to qualify.
• Feb. 12. IRS begins 2021 tax season. Individual tax returns begin being accepted and processing begins.
• Feb. 22. Projected date for the IRS.gov Where’s My Refund tool being updated for those claiming EITC and ACTC, also referred to as PATH Act returns.
• First week of March. Tax refunds begin reaching those claiming EITC and ACTC (PATH Act returns) for those who file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns.
• April 15. Deadline for filing 2020 tax returns.
• Oct. 15. Deadline to file for those requesting an extension on their 2020 tax returns

Filing season opening

The filing season open follows IRS work to update its programming and test its systems to factor in the second Economic Impact Payments and other tax law changes. These changes are complex and take time to help ensure proper processing of tax returns and refunds as well as coordination with tax software industry, resulting in the February 12 start date.

The IRS must ensure systems are prepared to properly process and check tax returns to verify the proper amount of EIP’s are credited on taxpayer accounts – and provide remaining funds to eligible taxpayers.

Although tax seasons frequently begin in late January, there have been five instances since 2007 when filing seasons did not start for some taxpayers until February due to tax law changes made just before the start of tax time.

A warning for all EROs: the IRS announced today that scammers are contacting tax professionals and posing as IRS personnel, saying that they need to "verify" the EROs e-file acceptance letter. DO NOT PROVIDE YOUR EFIN or your acceptance letter to anyone over the phone! It's a SCAM!

Link to IRS announcement: 

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/2b110d7

EROs who receive contacts from individuals posing as the IRS should contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at www.tigta.gov to file a complaint. EROs who received a contact and disclosed their acceptance letter should contact the e-Services help desk immediately.

December 29th,2020 at 2 PM LAST CHANCE FOR ETHICS

Enrolled Agents! Still need to fulfill your 2-hour Circular 230 Ethics requirement?

John Sheely, EA & Marc Dombrowski EA are offering their yearly FREE ethics program. This is their 3rd annual "Giving Tuesday" gift to the tax practitioner community. Seats are limited, this is FREE 2 hour ethics course that satisfies Circular 230 requirements! Seats are limited to 500 attendees. 

(Note: PassKey Learning Systems is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from,Tax Practice Pro Inc., we are just sharing this information)

About This Webinar

IRM Dombrowski & the Case of the Doctor's Mistress who was the Innocent Spouse.

This is an an IRS ETHICS program for PTIN holders, EAs and CTEC holders.

IRS Program number: 7Q3WU-E-00136-20-O 2

This course offers 2 ethics CE to PTIN holders, enrolled agents and CTEC

This FREE ethics program is Tax Practice Pro's Third Annual "Giving Tuesday" gift to our colleagues in the tax practitioner community. This course discusses the ethics of taxpayer representation when multiple parties are involved. Specifically, the course looks at conflicts of interest and the duty of the Circular 230 professional, including the situation where the conflict is not discovered until representation is well under way.

Marc Dombrowski, EA, John Sheeley EA, and a cast of characters take you through one of the strangest cases we've seen to date, while teaching important lessons from Circualr 230 along the way.

WEBINAR SIGN UP LINK

Date: December 10, 2020

Time: 2:00 p.m. (ET), 1:00 p.m. (CT), 12:00 p.m. (MT),11:00 a.m. (PT), 8:00 a.m. Hawaii

This free 60-minute webinar is open to All.

Topics:

• Understand new option for submitting third-party authorization forms/signatures electronically
• Review step-by-step process for successfully uploading third-party authorization forms Learn what "electronic" signatures are acceptable
• Understand ways to authenticate taxpayers? identities when conducting remote transactions
• Plus, Q & A

Closed captioning will be offered.

Continuing Education: All participants who qualify will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Tax Professionals earn up to 1 CE Credit.

Category: Federal Tax

Registration: IRS Webinar Registration website.

Questions? Email the IRS directly at:  cl.sl.web.conference.team@irs.gov.

Sponsored By: IRS Stakeholder Liaison

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Enrolled agent renewals are coming up soon! Some users are telling us that they have not received any reminders for their renewal of enrollment! If your SSN ends in 7, 8, or 9, your enrollment cycle is coming up before the end of 2020! Your application for renewal of enrollment must be submitted between November 1 and January 31 prior to April 1 of the year that your next enrollment cycle begins. The fastest way to get your enrollment card is to go to www.pay.gov and submit Form 8554 online!

Directions for renewal: At www.pay.gov click “Find an Agency”

Search for "Internal Revenue Service"

The Enrolled Agent Renewal Form 8554 will come right up on the page. 

Press the "Continue" button and fill out the Form 8554 online. 

Don't forget!