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IRS to Waive First-Year CPE Requirement

Douglas ShulmanWASHINGTON, D.C. - The Internal Revenue Service wants to be flexible in implementing its paid preparer regulation system and intends to waive the 15 hours of annual continuing education courses required for certain paid tax preparers during the program's first year. IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman made those comments in a speech delivered before the Fall Tax Meeting of the American Institute of CPAs this week.

"We are also still working on a start date for testing, and an effective date for the 15 hours of continuing education," Shulman said. He noted the IRS recognizes the need for a staged transition to the new system and waiving the CPE requirement would help the agency work through issues, including working with third parties who already certify courses. Testing, however, is expected to begin in June. Those required to take competency exams must pass them in order to receive a Preparer Tax Identificatin Number. The CPE and testing requirements do not affect CPAs, Enrolled Agents or tax attorneys.

The IRS is also refining rules for those who working in professional firms and prepare all or substantially all of a return under the supervision of an accountant, enrolled agent or lawyer. Shulman said he could not provide definitive information until final guidance is provided this year. "I will tell you that I am sympathetic to the argument that the rules should be flexible for people who have met a higher professional standard," he said.

Meanwhile, Shulman said the IRS has created the Return Preparer Office, which will be led by David R. Williams. The office will manage all activities related to continuing education and testing of professionals under IRS jurisdiction and will also have responsibility for the registration system.

Bob Scott
Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind
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