Registered Tax Return Preparer Test Fee Refunds

The IRS is refunding the fees that return preparers paid for the Registered Tax Return Preparer test. Letters will be mailed to refund recipients on May 28 and checks will be mailed on June 2. Return preparers took the test between November 2011 and January 2013 and paid a fee of $116. About 89,000 tests were paid for and taken, with some preparers taking the test more than once.

The refunds are being made because the federal courts determined in Loving v. IRS that the IRS lacked authority to mandate testing.

The IRS remains committed to the principle that all persons who prepare federal tax returns for compensation should be required to pass a test of minimal competency and take annual continuing education training. Taxpayers deserve top-quality and ethical service from all tax professionals. As part of this commitment, the IRS launched an interim Annual Filing Season Program in 2014 to promote voluntary continuing education by non-credentialed tax return preparers.

The Administration's 2016 budget proposal would provide the IRS with authority to regulate all paid tax return preparers. Oversight of all paid preparers, coupled with diligent enforcement, would promote high-quality services from all tax professionals, improve voluntary compliance and foster confidence in the fairness of the U.S. tax system.