CTEC Tax Continuing Education Requirements

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CTEC Tax Preparer CE Requirements

CTEC Provider Number: 6216

CTEC Acceptance: WebCE has been approved by the California Tax Education Council to offer continuing education courses that count as credit towards the annual continuing education requirement imposed by the State of California for CTEC Registered Tax Preparers. A listing of additional requirements to register as a tax preparer may be obtained by contacting CTEC at P.O. Box 2890, Sacramento, CA, 95812-2890, by phone toll-free at (877) 850-2832, or on the Internet at www.ctec.org.

IRS Provider Number: RPBX8

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What are the Tax Continuing Education requirements for CTEC?

20 hours total

Note for CRTPs participating in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program - Record of Completion (AFSP - RoC): CRTPs are considered exempt from completing a 6 hour Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) course as part of the AFSP - RoC. However, they will need to consent to the Circular 230 obligations at PTIN renewal to be granted the Record of Completion.

Learn more about the IRS AFSP - Record of Completion.

Are there any subject area requirements for CTEC Tax CE/CPE?

CA State Tax Hours: 5 hours
Ethics: 2 hours (excess Ethics credits will NOT be applied to cover any other subject areas)
Federal Tax Law Updates: 3 hours (excess Law Updates credits will be applied to cover the Tax Topics subject area)
Federal Tax Topics: 10 hours

When does CTEC Tax CE/CPE have to be completed?

10/31 annually

Can Tax CE/CPE courses be repeated?

Courses cannot be taken for credit more than once in a reporting period.

Can Tax CE/CPE course hours carry over to the next renewal cycle?

Excess hours earned in a CE cycle may not be carried forward to a subsequent CE cycle. However, it can be carried back to the previous cycle to bring that cycle current.

What is the CTEC Tax Preparer renewal process?

Complete 20-hours (10 hours federal tax law, 3 hours federal tax update, 2 hours of Ethics and 5 hours for State) of continuing tax education each year
Renew PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) at IRS.gov/ptin
PTINs must be renewed annually by 12/31
Maintain a $5,000 tax preparer bond
Renew registration by October 31st of each year through CTEC.org
Pay renewal registration with CTEC
Note: If a CRTP fails to renew by 10/31, CTEC allows for late renewal. The late renewal deadline is 1/16 and a fee will be required. If not renewed, a CRTP will be required to start over.

What are the WebCE CTEC Tax CE/CPE course requirements?

WebCE courses are IRS and CTEC approved online self-study courses with non-monitored open-book final exams. Students should read through course material then complete exam.
Passing score: 70%
If the final exam is not passed on the first attempt, students have an unlimited number of retakes.

What is the access period for WebCE CTEC Tax CE/CPE courses?

12 months from the original date of purchase

How often does WebCE report CTEC Continuing Education course completions?

WebCE reports course completions electronically to CTEC and the IRS every business day. Every CTEC course completion will be reported by WebCE to both regulators upon completion, with the exception of courses created specifically to cover CA tax law those will only be reported to CTEC upon completion.

Does WebCE supply a certificate of completion for CTEC Continuing Education courses?

Online PDF certificates of completion are available to print immediately after the final exam is passed. CRTPs will receive 2 certificates for the completion of each course, one for CTEC and one for the IRS, with the exception of the California state tax law courses for which CRTPs will only receive CTEC credit. CRTPs should keep all certificates of completion for a minimum of 4 years for auditing purposes.

What are the CTEC Tax CE/CPE requirements for non-residents?

Non-resident tax preparers are not required to meet California requirements in order to prepare California tax returns for a fee.

Who to contact for additional questions

California Tax Education Council (CTEC)

Phone: 877-850-2832
Fax Number: 877-851-2832
Mailing Address: PO Box 2890 Sacramento, CA 95812
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ctec.org

IRS PTIN Info

Website: https://www.irs.gov

This information is based on state laws and regulations and is subject to change. WebCE makes every effort to make sure this information is current and accurate, however, WebCE is not engaged in rendering legal or professional advice and shall not be held responsible for inaccuracies contained herein. We urge you to check with your state's licensing department for complete and current information about its licensing rules and requirements.

Last updated on 5/8/2023

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