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 PTIN Requirements for Tax Return Preparers webpage.

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

According to the IRS, there is a nonrefundable $39.95 fee to obtain or renew a PTIN. For more information, see It’s time for tax professionals to renew their PTIN.

To verify your PTIN in TaxAct:

• Open the TaxAct Software
• Click the Preparer menu in the menu bar at the top
• Click Edit My Preparer Information
• Ensure the box next to PTIN that says "I verify this PTIN is accurate and the associated Preparer is the registered owner" is checked

Related Links

• New Requirements for Tax Return Preparers
• IRS Provides Guidance on Identifying Numbers for Tax Return Preparers

Note that any link in the information above is updated each year automatically and will take you to the most recent version of the document at the time it is accessed.