Pay The (PTIN) Man

[BHoffman]

IRS won their appeal to reinstate PTIN fees.   https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2019/mar/court-upholds-irs-ptin-program-201920752.html

[Lee B]

"The IRS has authority to charge a user fee for preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) a federal appeals court held on Friday, paving the way for the agency to reinstate the charges for obtaining and renewing a PTIN". . . . . .

This may be nitpicking, but the appeals court ruled that the IRS has the legal authority. The fee question is returning to the District Court for determination.

"Having upheld the IRS’s authority to require return preparers to obtain a PTIN and charge a fee, the court then discussed whether the fee the IRS charged was excessive. It noted at first that the IRS had lowered the fee from $50 to $33 (plus a separate processing fee). The appeals court remanded the case to the district court to determine whether the fee is reasonable and complies with the IOAA"

[Possi]

I sure wish one of the professional tax groups would rally and have the IRS pay every preparer for whom they hold 10-cards (fingerprints) for being their gatekeepers. 

[Lion EA]

Hey, I'm an EA and stuck with all the same stuff, but I didn't have to be fingerprinted. I want my pay, too!

[LEOPINTAX]

I am an EA too. I had to be fingerprinted to become  an ERO. You didn't have to be fingerprinted?

[Lion EA]

No. Don't remember why. Maybe due to having a PTIN from the very first year. Or, being an EA prior to applying as an ERO. Can't remember. Maybe another oldie remembers.

[Lee B]

I became an EA in 1992 and an ERO in 2002 - no fingerprints.

[Lion EA]

I became an EA about 2005 and an ERO about 2007-8.

[Catherine]

I became an EA in 2004 and an ERO a year or two later.  I had to do fingerprints.  

[Lion EA]

I had my PTIN many years before I was an EA. Could it be that timing that meant I didn't need fingerprints?

[Gail in Virginia]

I don't remember the details, but I think the IRS has gone back and forth on the fingerprints and at one time required them, then did not, then did again (and still do, as far as I know.)  So it was a timing thing.

[Lion EA]

 I see fingerprinting required for the EFIN, but just saw an old notice from 2011 re PTIN that said: Attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, enrolled retirement plan agent and enrolled actuaries also are expected to be exempt from the fingerprinting requirement at this time.  However, these individuals also must answer all the suitability questions asked on the PTIN application, such as whether they have been convicted of a felony in the previous 10 years.