Home > Tax Professionals > Tax Preparer Regulation > Apply or Renew Your PTIN

Renewing or Applying for a PTIN

All paid tax return preparers (including attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents) are required to obtain a PTIN. If you already have a PTIN, you must renew it annually. As long as the IRS can validate the ownership of the existing PTIN, the same number will be reassigned once the appropriate information is provided and the user fee is paid. The PTIN renewal fee for 2012 is $63. The initial application fee for a PTIN remains at $64.50.

All PTINs expired on December 31, 2011, but the system will continue accepting renewals. For those who have experienced difficulties when attempting to renew their PTINs, please contact the IRS Return Preparer Program.

In the future, some preparers will need to pass a competency test and background check, and take continuing education courses. Visit the New PTIN Requirements for Tax Return Preparers page on IRS.gov for more information.

It only takes about 15 minutes to sign up online and receive your PTIN. To learn more about the online PTIN registration process you can view the IRS Webinar, Demonstration of IRS Tax Professional PTIN Sign-Up System.

If you opt to use the paper application, Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) Application, it will take 4-6 weeks to process.

Note: Tax preparers must create a new PTIN account even if they already use e-Services. A PTIN account is separate from an e-Services account.