Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit. The last day to complete this exam was December 31, 2022. 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 refund or 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.

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Course Details

IRS Program Number: YH9W1-A-00116-22-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 12/31/2022 (local time of the student)

 

Course Syllabus

Course Description

Each year, various limits affecting income tax return preparation and tax planning are affected by inflation-related changes. In addition, new tax laws come into being that may significantly affect taxpayers’ income tax liability. This course will examine many of those changes.
The 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 is a basic tax course with no prerequisites, and qualifies for 6 CE credits in the IRS Annual Federal Tax Refresher category.

In organizing this course, the term “domain” is used in place of the more common “chapter” to more closely follow the language of the IRS Annual Federal Tax Refresher course outline.

 

**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

 

Upon completion of this course, a tax return preparer should be able to:

• Apply the inflation-adjusted and other limits to the proper preparation of taxpayers’ income tax returns;
• Calculate taxpayers’ additional tax liability resulting from the Medicare tax, net investment income tax and individual shared responsibility payment;
• 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 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

• Download Course Materials    <–To Download this file to your computer, Right-click the link and chose “Save File As”
• Note: Due to IRS Requirements, a “Preview” of the Final Exam for this course cannot be provided to students.

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Final Exam Portal – Please Click Below

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
Home Office Deduction examines the federal income tax deduction for business use of a home. It addresses the qualifications for a home office deduction and the actual expense and simplified methods of determining the deduction. In addition, it discusses the special home-office deduction rules applicable to daycare facilities and the recordkeeping requirements applicable to taking a home office deduction. It considers where the deduction should be taken and the forms a tax preparer should use in connection with the deduction. This is a basic tax course with no prerequisites, and qualifies for 3 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.

Learning Objectives

• Apply the home-office deduction qualification rules;
• Identify the types of home office use to which the exclusive use requirement does not apply;
• Describe the various types of taxpayer expenses that may be used to support a deduction for business use of a home;
• Apply the rules applicable to the simplified method of figuring the home-office deduction;
• Identify the tax forms on which a home-office deduction should be taken; and
• Recognize the recordkeeping requirements applicable to documents supporting a taxpayer’s home-office deduction.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 15 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
The annual global cost of cybercrime is high and getting higher all the time. In fact, cyber criminals reap a windfall from their activities that is likely to be in the trillions. Almost all of that cybercrime began with—and continues to start with—a social engineering concept known as “phishing.”
Certain business organizations, among which are those referred to as “financial institutions,” are charged by the FTC with taking particular steps to protect their customers’ financial information. Included in the category of financial institutions are professional tax preparers. Professional tax preparers normally maintain a significant amount of taxpayer information in various files—electronic and paper—that would be a treasure trove for cyber criminals.
In this course, tax preparers are introduced to the problem of cybercrime and its costs, offered methods that can be expected to reduce the chances of becoming a cybercrime victim, and informed of proper steps to take if they do become victims of cybercrime. This course is a basic tax level course with no prerequisites, and qualifies for 3 CE credits in IRS Federal Tax Law.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the pervasiveness of cybercrime;
• Identify the potential costs of experiencing a data breach;
• Understand the best practices that may be implemented to protect a tax preparer from cybercrime; and
• List the responsibilities of a tax preparer who has experienced a taxpayer data breach.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 15 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
Virtual currency use is increasing, and roughly 3 in 10 Americans younger than age 30 indicate they have invested in, traded, or used a virtual currency, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. As a result, tax preparers are more likely than ever to encounter clients who have engaged in one or more virtual currency transactions during the year and who may have taxable income as a result. Tax Treatment of Virtual Currency briefly discusses the nature of virtual currency, how transactions in virtual currency occur and are recorded, and the tax treatment to which they are subject. This is a basic tax course with no prerequisites, and qualifies for 2 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.

Learning Objectives

• Describe virtual currency;
• Explain how central bank digital currency (CBDC) is used;
• Recognize how stablecoins differ from unbacked cryptocurrency;
• Describe how virtual currency networks maintain security; and
• Recognize how blockchain is employed with respect to virtual currency transactions.
• Calculate the adjusted cost basis of virtual currency that is purchased, mined, or received as a gift;
• Calculate the adjusted cost basis of virtual currency that is Apply existing tax law to transactions involving virtual currency;
• Describe the tax treatment of virtual currency given as a charitable gift; and
• Recognize the tax treatment given virtual currency when less than all is sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 10 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Important: This course provides 8-Hrs of continuing education credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category. If you wish to obtain the Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion, do not take this course. The name of this course can be easily mixed up with another course offered on this website, please note the differences in the names to be sure you are registering for the correct course:

• “Annual Tax Season Update“ – Provides 8 CE credits in the Federal Tax Law category (Designed for EA’s)
• “Annual Federal Tax Refresher“ – Provides 6 CE credits in the AFTR category (Not for EA’s)

Course Syllabus

Course Description
Each year, income tax return preparation must take into account inflation-related changes to various limits and new tax laws. This course will look at those changes and new laws. The Annual Tax Season Update course is designed to provide valuable information to persons preparing clients’ individual 1040 income tax returns. The course a) examines new tax legislation and changes in various limits that reflect inflation, b) provides a general tax review, and c) discusses important rules governing tax return preparer ethics, practices and procedures. This is a basic tax course with no prerequisites, and qualifies for 8 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the principal individual income tax changes brought about by recent tax legislation;
• 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 each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
This course examines tax preparer conduct standards. It addresses the issues of confidentiality, accuracy, conflict of interest, taxpayer omissions and return of client records. The ethical rules governing these issues are discussed, and tax preparers are presented with real-world scenarios that focus on the ethical issues that may be encountered in their professional activities. A final examination covering the course material is administered. This course is a basic tax level course with no prerequisites, and qualifies for 2 CE credits in IRS Federal Tax Law.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the permitted scope of tax return preparer responsibilities;
• Identify the best practices for tax advisers in preparing or assisting in the preparation of a submission to the Internal Revenue Service;
• List the various sanctions that may be imposed for a preparer’s failure to comply with applicable conduct rules.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 10 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
This self-study courses discusses important tax changes for 2021 tax returns and basic information on the tax system. It also discusses the requirements for filing a tax return and which filing status to choose. Though this basic tax course does not require any prerequisites, its recommended target audience is for existing Enrolled Agents, however anyone may take this course. This course provides 2 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.

Learning Objectives

• Recall important tax changes to be used for 2021 tax returns.
• Recognize the length of the automatic extension provided by filing Form 4868.
• Recognize the various filing statuses and who is eligible to use them.
• Recall the various requirements for a qualifying relative.
• Identify the purpose of estimated taxes.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 10 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
This self-study course discusses various types of income and will explain which income is and is not taxed. Though this basic tax course does not require any prerequisites, its recommended target audience is for existing Enrolled Agents, however anyone may take this course. This course provides 5 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.

Learning Objectives

• Recall what types of compensation are included as income for tax purposes.
• Recognize what tips should be included in income for tax purposes.
• Recall the proper tax treatment for various types of interest.
• Identify the proper treatment of various types of dividends.
• Recognize the proper treatment of rental property income and expenses for tax purposes.
• Identify various requirements regarding retirement plan taxation.
• Recognize key taxation thresholds related to social security income.
• Identify the taxability of various types of other income.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
This self-study course discusses investment gains and losses, including how to figure your basis in property. A gain from selling or trading stocks, bonds, or other investment property may be taxed or it may be tax free, at least in part. A loss may or may not be deductible. These chapters also discuss gains from selling property you personally use – including the special rules for selling your home. Though this basic tax course does not require any prerequisites, its recommended target audience is for existing Enrolled Agents, however anyone may take this course. This course provides 2 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the factors to consider in calculating the basis of property.
• Recognize the taxability of the sale of personal use property.
• Identify the special tax rules related to selling your home.
• Recall the capital gain rates for the current year.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 10 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Please Note: this course has expired and is no longer valid for IRS credit.

Course Syllabus

Course Description
This self-study course discusses some of the adjustments to income that you can deduct in figuring your adjusted gross income. Also discussed are contributions made to traditional individual retirement arrangements (IRAs), moving expenses, alimony paid, educator expenses, student loan interest, and tuition and fees paid. Though this basic tax course does not require any prerequisites, its recommended target audience is for existing Enrolled Agents, however anyone may take this course. This course provides 5 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.

Learning Objectives

• Recall the thresholds, requirements, and additional taxes related to individual retirement arrangements.
• Recognize what is and is not alimony.
• Identify education-related adjustments that can be made to income.
• Identify what business-related expenses associated with travel, transportation, and gifts are deductible.

Course Assignments

• Study each Chapter
• Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
• Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better

Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.