If you’re thinking about getting a tax license, you’re on track for a lucrative addition to your career. Becoming a certified Professional Tax Preparer is an excellent step toward a satisfying financial future. Many people obtain their tax license and use it as a stepping stone to other opportunities, such as owning a tax services business. Simply including tax preparation skills on your resume and getting a tax license is an excellent pathway for advancing your current career.
Universal Accounting leads the way in small business tax training and is approved by the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) to offer the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) certification as a distance learning course in California. Universal Accounting offers a money-back guarantee. If you aren’t satisfied with your tax preparation course, you can simply return your materials and receive your money back.
What Is IRS Tax Certification?
An IRS-certified tax preparer has unlimited rights to represent their clients in front of the IRS. Because IRS preparation is detailed and constantly changing, IRS-certified tax preparers can help clients better navigate the complexities of the system, including tax payments, audits, and preparing appeals in the event of an IRS error. Certified tax preparers are consultants who have a right to be paid for the work they perform for clients.
When you choose a reputable tax preparation certification course, it will include current information on tax laws. It will also prepare students for changes in tax laws for the upcoming years. The course will train students in state and federal tax forms and how to prepare them accurately.
I Want to Become Certified: What’s Next?
Tax preparers don’t have to be IRS-certified to work with clients and be compensated for their work, but certification is the best route to take if they plan to pursue a career in the field. Not only can certification increase future salaries and add more opportunities to the table, but it can also increase demand for services.
Certification is possible through IRS-approved educational training courses. Those interested in taking the next step in certification can find official courses listed on the IRS website. It’s essential to ensure the IRS has vetted the courses to make the certification official in the government’s eyes.
Luckily, modern technology has made hands-on tax preparation education more accessible and flexible than ever before. Online courses are a convenient way to enhance education while juggling family life and work responsibilities because they are available on-demand, day or night.
After you make the choice to pursue your tax license, it is time to find the program that is right for you, aligns with your goals, and is within your means.
How to Choose a Program
Students pursuing an IRS certification should keep a few things in mind when searching for a program. First and most importantly, the educational provider has to be listed as an IRS-approved course provider. Other aspects include:
- Official “PTP” designation
- Educational tuition assistance if necessary
- Individual counselors
- A timeline that aligns with their goals
- Business coaching after completion
These aspects will help students set themselves up for success in the next phase of their careers.
Partnering with an organization such as Universal Accounting is an intelligent way to get started with a training course that encompasses all the aspects of a great program and is IRS-approved. The Professional Tax Preparer certification is a self-paced online training to prepare personal and business taxes and prepare students for the IRS’ enrolled agent (EA) exam.
The best certification programs support students after completing courses by partnering them with coaches and mentors with real-world experience. This additional training is invaluable to those looking to grow in the profession. The teachers and coaches at Universal Accounting know what it’s like to be successful tax preparers because they have experience in the field.
Reasons to Consider an Online Program
When students choose online tax education courses, like those offered by Universal Accounting, they can expect to learn via workbooks, videos, and various other reference materials. High-quality online courses are cutting edge and will include many elements of visual learning, as well as self-paced. This means you can return to materials and watch them again if needed.
Universal Accounting also offers instruction provided by experts in the tax and accounting fields. Students can expect to participate in real-world scenarios, which will help them prepare them firsthand for what it’s like working in the field.
What Happens After I’m Certified?
After certification, the next step is to receive recognition from the IRS. The first step will be an IRS preparer tax identification number, or PTIN. Registration is simple—visit the IRS website and register online for the PTIN in about 15 minutes. The application takes between four and six weeks to process. Once the number is official, certified tax preparers can use the number on forms and market themselves to clients as IRS-certified. This designation tells clients they will receive exceptional service and confidentiality and tells the IRS the tax preparer understands the complexities of their business.
In addition to the PTP and PTIN number, many tax preparers take an extra step to affiliate themselves with professional organizations. These memberships can carry weight for business owners running their firms or on resumes. Some of these include:
- National Association of Tax Professionals
- National Society of Tax Professionals
- American Academy of Attorneys
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- National Society of Accountants
- National Association of Enrolled Agents
These organizations are very picky with memberships and are an excellent way to show commitment to excellence in the field.
Ready to Get Licensed? Contact Us Today!
If you plan to grow in your career or start your own accounting business, certification is an essential part of the accounting and tax preparation industry. The extra step establishes credibility and trust that will far outweigh the costs.
Tax preparation will always be in demand, and Americans dreading tax season each year will appreciate a professional in their corner. Start your certification journey today. Contact Universal Accounting for more information.
