Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit. The last day to complete this exam was December 31, 2019. This course and exam is available for students to use as review and/or practice material.
The IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) is a voluntary program for tax return preparers. It aims to recognize the efforts of non-credentialed return preparers who aspire to a higher level of professionalism. By achieving this AFSP Record of Completion, though not required by the IRS, you will have the privilege of having your name listed on the IRS Federal Directory of Tax Preparers if you choose to.
This course is not designed for Enrolled Agents. If you are an enrolled agent and purchased this course, please contact us so we can exchange this course for you.
The course below is the 6-hour Annual Federal Tax Refresher Course (AFTR), which is just part of the overall AFSP. If you wish to obtain the full AFSP, additional courses may be required depending on if you are an Exempt or Non-Exempt preparer. More information about the Annual Filing Season Program, Exempt and Non-Exempt preparers, and CE Requirements can be found in the following links:
Annual Filing Season Program
Requirements for Exempt Individuals
Annual Filing Season CE Requirements
How and when will I get my Record of Completion?
After you complete your continuing education and renew your PTIN for the upcoming year, you will receive an email from TaxPro_PTIN@irs.gov with instructions on how to elect to participate and receive your record of completion in your online secure mailbox. You must have a PTIN in order to receive IRS credit for this course.
Course Details
IRS Program Number: YH9W1-A-00051-19-S
CE Credits: 6 hours – (This course does not provide CE credits for Enrolled Agents)
IRS Category: Annual Federal Tax Refresher
Delivery Type: Online Self-Study
Exam: 100 Question, 3-hour Timed Exam (Only 4 attempts are allowed for this exam)
**AFTR course Final Exam must be successfully passed by midnight 12/31/2019 (local time of the student)
Course Syllabus
Course Description
The 2020 Annual Federal Tax Refresher course is designed to meet the requirements of the IRS Annual Filing Season Certificate program. It discusses new tax law and recent updates for the upcoming filing season, provides a general tax review, and examines important rules governing tax return preparer ethics, practices and procedures.
This self-study course follows IRS guidelines pertaining to the Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) program. Three Domains are covered: Domain 1 New Tax Law, Domain 2 General Review of Taxes, and Domain 3 Practices, Procedures and Professional Responsibility. This is a 6-Hr tax course designed for an individual with prior tax preparation experience. This course qualifies for 6 CE credit hours in IRS Category Annual Federal Tax Refresher.
**IMPORTANT**If you wish to participate in the Annual Filing Season Program, you will need to log into your PTIN account and sign the Circular 230 Consent statement in order to participate in the Annual Filing Season Program. For steps on how to complete the consent, see the instructional video in the upper right corner of the Annual Filing Season Program web page on IRS.gov at: https://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Annual-Filing-Season-Program
Learning Objectives
- Upon completion of this course, a tax return preparer should be able to:
- Identify the principal individual income tax changes brought about by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017;
- Apply the inflation-adjusted and other limits to the proper preparation of taxpayers’ income tax returns;
- Recognize the federal income tax filing statuses and the criteria for their use;
- Identify the types of income that must be recognized;
- Apply the tax rules to the various credits and adjustments to income that are available to taxpayers;
- Recognize the penalties that may be imposed on a preparer for failing to meet ethical and practice standards in preparing tax returns; and
- Identify the duties and restrictions imposed on tax preparers under Circular 230.
Course Assignments
- Study all 3 Domains
- Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better
- Answer a short voluntary Course Evaluation
Course Materials
- <Course Materials Removed (Out-dated)>