Registered Tax Return Preparer Test
The IRS is beginning the next phase of its effort to increase oversight of the tax preparation industry by launching the new Registered Tax Return Preparer Competency Test.
A third-party test vendor, Prometric Inc., will administer the test, with scheduling beginning the week of December 7, 2011. The fee for the competency test is $116. The test covers preparation of the Form 1040 and its related schedules. Preparers have until December 31, 2013 to pass the test. More information is available on the Registered Tax Return Preparer Test Explained page on IRS.gov.
Tax preparers who pass this test, a background check and tax compliance check, as well as complete 15 hours of continuing education annually, will have a new designation: Registered Tax Return Preparer.
