Professional Tax Preparer™ Certification, or PTP Certification, is Universal Accounting School’s unique program that affirms & validates the skills and abilities of an individual to perform tax preparation services for individuals & businesses.

• According to the IRS, any tax professional with an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) is authorized to prepare federal tax returns.
• You need a PTIN number to prepare income taxes. If, however, you plan on starting your own tax preparation firm, you also will need an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) from the IRS. This gives your firm the ability to e-file tax returns, which is generally required of a firm that files 11 or more income tax returns.

• Any accountant or individual can call themselves a tax professional and offer services to help prepare federal tax returns, however the education and expertise of those individuals can vary widely. That is why certification from a reputable brand like Universal Accounting is not only recommended, but so necessary for most business opportunities. Certification clearly distinguishes to any prospective client that the certified individual is in fact a true tax professional with in-depth knowledge and experience into even the most unique tax situations.
• Changing legislation in the tax code and health care reform makes expertise in tax preparation & filing taxes more and more of a need. Employers and clients look for respected credentials when choosing to trust a tax professional.

• The professional designation of “PTP” that certifies their skills preparing individual and business returns
• Be in demand for your skills, set yourself apart from non-certified competitors
• Earn $100+ an hour
• Work whenever and however you want
• Reduce your own tax liability
• Work from home
• Work full-time or part-time
• Convenient, at-home learning through an all-online course
• The ability to do the program & get certified in weeks rather than months
• The ability to pay the tuition in full or take advantage of the available student loan options to finance
• The assigned individual coaches, an orientation counselor, academic coach (individual tutor), marketing coach
• The Continuing Professional Education, CPE, credits available – 67 hours. (Module 1: 24 hours, M2: 18, M3: 20, M4: 5)
• Job placement assistance
• Marketing & client acquisition assistance

• Yes, you can earn a total of 67 hours of CPE credits by taking our Professional Tax Preparation program. Each module you complete results in various credit hours earned.
  • Module I – Establishing the Tax Foundation = 24 credit hours.
  • Module II – Becoming the 1040 Expert = 18 credit hours
  • Module III – Profitable Business Returns = 20 credit hours
  • Module IV – Building Your Successful Tax Practice = 5 credit hours
• TOTAL = 67 hours

• To be admitted to one of Universals’ programs, the applicant must have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate, and beyond the age of compulsory high school attendance, as prescribed by Utah law (see Rule 152-34-4(3) of the Utah Administrative Code).
• To register for one of Universal’s income tax preparation courses, it is suggested the student complete the Professional Bookkeeper™ program, or obtain a favorable review through interviewing with a Universal instructor or administrator.

• Universal’s Professional Bookkeeper™ and Professional Tax Preparer™ are designed to be completed in four-weeks. Other Universal courses vary in length. Please call the registrar’s office for specific information.

• Universal offers simple, 12, 18 or 24 month financing programs to those who qualify. For more information on financing qualifications and arrangements, please contact Universal’s Registrars office at 800-343-4827.

• Yes! We want to see you get the job you want.
• Graduates receiving one of Universal Accounting’s professional designations will be assigned a Personal Achievement Coach to assist them in their career pursuit. Universal’s job placement assistance program consists of resume preparation, resume placement strategies and successful interviewing techniques.
• Companies in the community often contact Universal for potential job candidates. While we may provide job attainment information; we cannot make guarantees for employment.
• As a student and or graduate of Universal Accounting’s Professional Tax Preparation program, a buyer is entitled to our Job Placement Assistance Program (PB, QS and PTP Programs), and may be assisted with:
• Resume Preparation
  • Assistance via email in the review and development of a resume for the purpose of securing interviews
• Resume Placement Assistance
  • Helping to identify possible employers and accounting related positions by following a weekly routine
• Interviewing Technique Review
  • Role play advice and suggestions to improve the success of interviewing opportunities.

• Yes! We want to help you reach your goals, and the first step after you are certified is creating the plan to do so.
• Upon qualification, you become certified as a Professional Tax Preparer and are licensed to use the (PTP) designation. Your enrollment in the PTP Certification program extends even after you are qualified. As part of your enrollment and upon completion of the program you’ll have the opportunity to speak with your assigned business coach and have a Marketing Implementation Session. This will be a one-on-one discussion to develop your business plan and a clear marketing strategy to get you the clients you need. An assigned Marketing Coach will continue to be there to support & help you build a tax business. You’ll be assigned to them and a team of coaches to tutor and instruct you as needed and apply all of this in the real world for as many as 1 to 2 years. You’ll be following much of the training include in Module #4 of the PTP program, Building Your Successful Tax Practice – the turnkey process to start & build a successful tax business. This includes proven marketing strategies, pricing, client interviewing for tax planning and preparation and much more.

• Yes! From the beginning, we said we want to help you reach your income, career & lifestyle goals. Of course, you will need to put in the work to get the clients. But we will show you how and help you do so.

• The Professional Tax Preparer™ Program is designed to be a complete online course. And while it is self-directed (i.e. you can complete the course at your own pace), students will always have access to their instructors online.
• The course consists of 62 hours of tax training instruction. Our tax preparation courses include all necessary books and worksheets (over 600 pages of instruction and reference materials). This tax training course is engaging and entertaining. You have the flexibility to complete the courses on your own time, in a way that fits your life. The course is taught by experienced accounting workshop professionals who give practical advice on tax issues. Our tax instructors know what challenges you will face because they have been there themselves. They will provide you with real-world solutions to give you the edge in productivity and profitability.

• The  Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) program is specifically designed to be completely online. While some people do prefer learning in an in-person atmosphere, and while it is possible to search for “tax classes near me” and find some viable options, we believe the benefits of an online class outweigh that of local in-person classes.
• Online courses are updated constantly with new tax legislation from around the country. Meanwhile, local tax preparation classes may have less frequently updated curriculums for non-local tax laws.
• Students receive significantly more access to resources when they go through their tax preparation training online. Our library of resources is vast. Plus, for any and all questions, teaching and program support are only an email or phone call away. Local options will likely be limited to one or two teachers, and their personal availability for questions or tutoring much less frequent.
• Online classes give students the flexibility and freedom to complete the curriculum at their own pace, fits well into already busy schedules, and allows students to continue participating in their life and career. Many of our students are already involved in the accounting or finance world and wish to continue working while they become certified tax preparers.

• Tax preparers prepare and file federal and state tax returns. Essentially, they review their client’s income and financial records such as W2s and dividend statements, then identify deductions and credits to determine the amount their client’s owe or will be refunded.
• As you can imagine, Tax Preparers must be familiar with various tax forms and schedules that the IRS and state tax boards issue. As such, tax preparers should be familiar with the requirements for filing taxes in the state’s in which they do business.

• The best way to know is to talk with us. If you’re interested in learning more about getting certified through our Professional Tax Preparer™ Certification program and exploring whether Universal Accounting’s at-home learning model is right for you, fill out the form on this page. A friendly and knowledgeable UAS Advisor would be happy to help you explore your options and uncover the right training solution and business plan to suit you.