EAs

[Lion EA]

National Association of Enrolled AgentsBreaking news: NAEA just received word that #EA User Fee Regulations will be published April 19! Read more in tomorrow's E@lert!

[Catherine]

Thank you!

This assumes, of course, that we have TIME to read newsletters.

[Lion EA]

RETURN PREPARER OVERSIGHT NEWS

Glory, Glory Hallelujah!

Our long wait is over. Final regulations on the EA/ERPA user fees are arrived!

The final regs should be published in the Federal Register on April 19th. Please remember, however, that the renewal window for EAs currently in cycle (i.e., those with social security numbers ending in 4, 5, or 6) will not commence until 30 days after publication in the Internal Revenue Bulletin (not the Federal Register), which should be May 2nd.

Therefore, the renewal period will commence on June 1st and conclude on August 30th. IRS expects to process the applications and issue enrollment cards within 90 days of the end of the renewal period (by November 28th). The renewal will be retroactive to April 1, 2011 for EAs who fall under the provisions of Announcement 2010-81 (and who properly renew their enrollment prior to the end of the adjusted renewal period). This information is all available in Announcement 2011-29.

Conversations with OPR lead us to believe that EAs (and ERPAs) in cycle should expect a letter from OPR. We should also see new information on the OPR portion of IRS' website, so you may want to be on the lookout for that. While the new Form 8554 should not be available until June 1st, the revised Form 23 (application to become an enrolled agent) may be available within the next week or so.

As we've shared previously, those of you in cycle will continue to be considered an enrolled agent in good standing even though your card indicates a March 31, 2011 expiration date.

[Gail in Virginia]

Thanks for the information! I heard it here first. :)