You probably don’t know this, but approximately 400,000 tax preparers don’t take any approved continuing education. While other ongoing tax education programs might help you refresh your knowledge and skills, you want to keep up with the ever-changing tax rules and regulations. The best way to do this is to earn the IRS’s voluntary Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) Record of Completion.
What’s the AFSP Record of Completion?
The Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion is a voluntary initiative from the IRS that encourages tax return preparers to keep themselves up-to-date on tax rules and regulations by continuing their education. This continuing education program offers the greatest benefit to tax preparers who aren’t attorneys, enrolled agents, or certified public accountants. Still, anyone with a valid PITN can participate.
Taking your tax preparer continuing education from a recognised course provider like RocketCert is a good way to fulfil the requirement for representing clients before the IRS. It also positions you as a knowledgeable and competitive expert in the tax preparation market.
AFSP Record of Completion Advantages
Understanding why the AFSP Record of Completion is important is a great motivational factor for acquiring it. So, here are the top reasons for taking an IRS-approved continuing education (CE) course to earn the AFSP certificate.
1. Ability to Represent Your Clients
As a tax preparer, you can represent clients whose returns you prepared and signed before revenue agents, customer service representatives, and similar IRS employees regarding different issues. However, only PTIN holders who are participants in the AFSP program are allowed to represent clients regarding returns prepared and signed on or after January 1, 2016.
Keep in mind that even if you have the AFSP Record of Completion, you can’t represent a client whose returns you didn’t prepare. You also can’t represent all clients regarding matters of collection or appeals. If you don’t have the AFSP Record of Completion or another professional credential that’s recognised by the IRS, you are, unfortunately, limited to preparing tax returns only.
2. Promote Your Credentials
The AFSP Record of Completion is a highly ranked credential in the world of tax preparation. Though earning the AFSP Record of Completion doesn’t give you unlimited practice rights like attorneys or certified public accountants, it boosts your credentials.
That’s especially because many people now know there exists such a credential. So, instead of creating a normal email signature like everyone else, you can add “AFSP Record of Completion” to make yours recognisable. You can even add this to your business cards and other promotional materials.
3. Free Marketing
When you complete the AFSP program successfully, you will be listed on the IRS Federal Tax Return Preparers Directory. But that’s not the highlight here. The main benefit to think about is that the IRS markets the directory through a public education campaign that encourages taxpayers to use the services of tax preparers with proven professional credentials.
For you, that’s free marketing, since your name will be visible to taxpayers in your ZIP code zone.
4. Certificate From the IRS
Having a certificate is the best way to testify to your skills and accomplishments. After participating in the AFSP program, the IRS will award you its Record of Completion as a certificate that you can print for display in your office.
This certificate is what your clients need to know you are current with tax law changes. What’s more, it’s an indication that you make the effort to meet IRS standards.
Ready to Set Yourself Apart?
It’s no secret that qualifications matter a lot when it comes to tax preparation, which is why you shouldn’t take the AFSP credential lightly.
Besides, with a considerable number of tax preparers who don’t participate in the AFSP program, you will enhance your prospects greatly by joining the section for those who do. Visit rocketcert.com today to get started on a journey of success in tax preparation!