Tax return preparers who prepare all, or substantially all, of a federal tax return for compensation are subject to certain requirements including Registration, Testing, and Continuing Education.

The IRS Registration System and testing are available. Identification numbers will be issued only to those who pass the exams. Anyone who registered before the exams were ready has until the end of 2013 to pass.

This ID number will take the form of the Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) which is mandatory for all paid preparers as of January 1, 2011. Preparers who already have a PTIN still need to register in the new system.

There is a fee of $64.25 ($50 to the IRS and $14.25 the the third-party vendor that operates the online system).

Related Links:

• New Requirements for Tax Return Preparers
• IRS Provides Guidance on Identifying Numbers for Tax Return Preparers
• IRS Releases Proposed Regulations Related to Fees for Preparer Tax Identification Numbers
• Return Preparer Review Leads to Recommendations For New Requirements of Paid Tax Return Preparers (history of the new requirement)
• New Return Preparer Regulations: Overview
• Proposed New Requirements for Tax Return Preparers: Frequently Asked Questions