Unenrolled preparers who have passed recognized state or national tests qualify for an exemption from the AFTR course but must still obtain 15 hours of continuing education.
Who is exempt from taking the AFTR course?
Some unenrolled preparers are exempt from the AFTR course requirement because of their completion of other recognized state or national competency tests. These exempt groups are still required to meet other program requirements, including 15 CE credits (10 Federal Tax Law, 3 Federal Tax Law Updates, and 2 Ethics).
Return preparers who can obtain the AFTR – Record of Completion without taking the AFTR course are:
- Anyone who passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer test administered by the IRS between November 2011 and January 2013
- Established state-based return preparer program participants currently with testing requirements: Return preparers who are active registrants of the Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners, California Tax Education Council, and/or Maryland State Board of Individual Tax Preparers.
- Part I Test-Passers: Tax practitioners who have passed the Special Enrollment Exam Part I within the past two years.
- VITA volunteers: Quality reviewers and instructors with active PTINs
- Other accredited tax-focused credential-holders: The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation’s Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor (ABA) and Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) programs.
Those who are exempted from the AFTR course must meet the alternative requirements (15 hours of IRS-approved CE, consent to Circular 230 practice requirements, and a valid PTIN for the upcoming filing season) in order to receive an AFSP Record of Completion. Once all requirements are met, the exempted return preparer will be issued a Record of Completion. You will not be required to notify the IRS of an exemption.
You Still Need To Complete 15 Hours Of Continuing Education
We put together this course specifically for those that are exempt from the AFTR and is brand new for 2020. This course comes one year after massive changes to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduced tax rates on both business and individual income, and enhanced incentives for investment by firms. Those features most likely have raised output in the short run and will continue to do so in the long run, but most analysts estimate the modest effects that offset only a portion of revenue loss from the bill.
We’ve put together 15 hours of brand-new videos featuring Dr. Bart Basi, Mark Kohler and Roman Basi who will explain the effects of the CARES Act, and what this means for your business tax strategy. The course usually retails for $159.97, it’s available for sale at a discount at $129.97 for a limited time. The 15 hours contained in this package include:
- 2 Hours of Ethics
- 3 Hours of Federal Tax Law Updates
- 10 Hours of Federal Tax Law Related Topics
This package will cover all the major changes and topics that affect all taxpayers.
Course titles you can expect in this package include :
- 2020 CARES Act Stimulus (2 Hours)
- 2020 Ethics Circular 230 (2 Hours)
- 2020 Federal Tax Law Updates (3 Hours)
- 2020 Estate Planning Basics (1 Hour)
- 2020 Corporations and Partnership Taxes: The 1120, 1120s and the 1065 (3 Hours)
- 2020 Financial Planning and Investments, Foreign Income & IRS Disciplinary Actions (3 Hours)
- 2020 Business Tax Strategies (1 Hour)
If you do not meet one of the above exemptions don't worry, it just means that you have to take the 18 hour Non-Exempt version that includes the AFTR. Most people actually fall into this category.
The 18 hour Non Exempt Package can be found here.
