June 2011                      Newsletter                       Issue No. 1012

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In This Issue
Latest News for Tax Preparers
Lastest News for Notary Publics
Early Bird Special

Greetings!

 
I hope you are all enjoying the start of your summer.  If renewing your continuing education is on your summer to do list, we have given you an incentive with our early bird special listed below. This is Platinum's busiest time of the year, but I will make time to enjoy the beach and the Southern California weather.

Platinum is keeping current with all the changes that are occurring.  Please do not hesitate to call me directly if you have any questions or need clarification.  We would also like to hear from you if you have any suggestions on the best way you would like to retrieve information.  Platinum is active on our Blog, Facebook, and Twitter.  The following are the most recent updates for tax preparers.  

  • The IRS has selected the vendor who will conduct the Return Preparer Testing and Fingerprinting Programs. 
  • The IRS has stated that "An individual with a provisional PTIN may not represent that he is a registered tax return preparer or has passed the competency examination. Once the competency examination is available, only an individual who has met all of the conditions to becoming a registered tax return preparer, including passing the competency examination and the tax compliance and suitability checks, may represent that he is a registered tax return preparer." 
  • CTEC has just announced that Effective November 1st, 2012 the CTEC renewal late fee will increase from $15 to $55.  The goal for CTEC is to try and stop CRTPS from renewing late.

Please read below for more information as well as other updates. 
  
We are still looking for customers to be part of Platinum's Website.  Did you know it is important to get your own website for your business?  Did you know having a link on our website moves you up in the search engine rankings? Let us know if you are interested in joining our Network page or if you would like to send us a testimonial to be posted directly on our home page.

Remember, our courses offer the following features:  
  • Immediate, online grading and feedback on tax course answers.
  • Your Certificate of Completion (Tax) and/or Proof of Completion (Notary) is e-mailed to you immediately following the successful completion of the course.
  • No need to mail or fax anything to us and absolutely no need to wait for your certificate to be mailed to you.
  • Reading material that can be accessed directly from the quizzes. No downloading.
  • You can save your answers and return later to complete the quizzes.
  • Multiple CTEC Continuing Education tax courses  
Sincerely,
Lauren Zago                                                           
Platinum Professional Services




  
Latest News

Tax Preparer News

  

Platinum Professional Services

Competency testing will not be available until October 2011

 

The Internal Revenue Service has selected Prometric, Inc. as the vendor to administer a new competency examination and fingerprinting program for certain paid tax return preparers. The IRS has also selected Daon Trusted Identity Services as a vendor to offer fingerprinting services.

The testing and suitability checks are two components of the second phase of increased IRS oversight of federal tax return preparers, as outlined in the Return Preparer Review issued on Jan. 4, 2010. Mandatory registration and issuance of Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) was the first phase which began in Sept. 2010.

The testing vendor will administer the testing program. The vendor will be responsible for conducting a job analysis using subject matter experts from both the IRS and preparer community to ascertain the capabilities and necessary knowledge for return preparers. Once a test plan is approved, the IRS will make test specifications available to assist individuals in preparation for the examination.  The IRS will have final approval of all test questions.

The fingerprinting vendor will assist the IRS in evaluating the background and suitability of certain PTIN applicants, but the IRS will make all determinations regarding suitability issues.  

 

IRS Taking Steps to stop Tax Preparers with Criminal Tax Convictions

 

The Internal Revenue Service is taking steps to stop tax preparers with criminal tax convictions or permanent injunctions from preparing tax returns. This is just one of several recent moves to improve the quality and oversight of the tax preparation industry.

More than 700,000 tax preparers nationwide have registered with the IRS and obtained Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs). This nine-digit number must be used by paid tax return preparers on all returns or claims for refund. Paid preparers must renew their PTINs annually to legally prepare tax returns.

Latest News

Notary Public

News

 

Alert: A private company

claims to have the first online notarization website and has sent misleading information and made false claims to California notaries

public concerning a new online notarization service.  Online notarization services are not legal in California.  

Notary Services

Why not add Notary Services and create a new source of income for yourself?  Our online Notary Course is available for only $29.95.  Best of all, your Proof of Completion is emailed to you within minutes.
Contact Us

Mailing Address:
12340 Seal Beach Blvd B271
Seal Beach, CA 90740

Website:


Phone: 1-877-315-1772

Fax: 1-877-315-2725

Early Bird Special 

Special Offer  


Platinum Professional Services is offering our tax continuing education customers a chance to renew their CTEC registration for only $17.95.  We are offering this for our basic tax course. Interested in our intermediate and advanced courses? We have also reduced them to $27.95, $37.95, respectively. You can access the course now and come back when you are ready to complete it. Your course is good for six months.  To take advantage of this offer enter promo code 1836.  Offer expires June 30th, 2011. This offer excludes our EA and CPA courses.
 

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