Tax return preparers who prepare all, or substantially all, of a federal tax return for compensation are subject to certain requirements including registration in the IRS Registration System.
The ID number provided 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.
According to the IRS, there is no fee to obtain or renew a PTIN. For more information, see 2019 PTIN renewal period underway for tax professionals.
In TaxAct, you will enter and verify your PTIN on the Master Information Preparers Tab.