How an Annual Filing Season Program Can Help You Succeed in Your Tax Prep Career
Tax preparation is a lucrative business to be in. After all, everyone needs to get their taxes done, right?
But in order to stand out, you must show clients that you offer something more. You must show them that you are committed to education and to staying on top of the latest tax updates.
Taking the Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) will provide you with the updated information you need. And after completing the course, you will get a certificate that will look impressive hanging on your office wall.
To take your AFSP, you will need to go through an IRS approved provider. Latino Tax Pro is an approved provider of the program. Read on to find out how we can help you access the AFSP and the benefits it has to your career.
18 Hours of Tax Education
The AFSP is a voluntary program that offers eighteen hours of continuing education. Ten hours are dedicated to tax law, two hours are dedicated to ethics and six hours are dedicated to updates that will keep you on top of the latest changes.
If you have already taken part of the 18 hours, you may opt to take the Annual Tax Refresher Course instead of the full AFSP. This six-hour course provides information on tax law changes, updates and the compulsory test to pass the course.
The program must be taken through an IRS approved provider like Latino Tax Pro. Latino Tax Pro offers the program in English and Spanish making us an ideal provider for people who speak either, or both languages.
Renew Your PTIN
After you have taken the course, you will need to renew your PTIN number through the IRS. To do this, you will need to go to IRS.gov/taxprofessionals and click the ‘renew my PTIN’ button on the right side of the page.
If you have an existing PTIN, login to your IRS account. You will be able to renew your PTIN which will require a fee of around $39.
If you don’t have a login, you will need to create an account to receive a PTIN.
Get Your Certificate
Once you’ve completed your AFSP course, the provider will report your hours. The IRS will process the hours reported in about 3 days then you will need to agree to the Circular 230. To do this, go to AFSP record of completion on the IRS site. Elect to participate and agree to Circular 230. This means that you will uphold a specific standard of competence, integrity and conduct when practicing your profession.
You will receive an email after 48 – 72 hours from the IRS to confirm your acceptance to the IRS AFSP and you will be added to the IRS Directory of Tax Preparers. This is accessible to anyone looking for a preparer. It is a useful marketing tool.
The best part, you will have an impressive certificate to hang on your office wall. It will show your clients that you are up on the latest tax information and that you have the knowhow to get them the most out of their tax refund.
You may also consider joining an organization like Latino Tax Pro to ensure you are kept up to date on changes in tax laws and that you have access to the best educational resources.
Tax preparation is a terrific career move, but it’s highly competitive. An Annual Filing Season Program will give you the edge you need to get ahead. Sign up through Latino Tax Pro today and look forward to getting more clients in the door.
