New 2020 CTEC requirements starting July 1By: National Association of Tax Professionals
June 24, 2020

The California Tax Education Council (CTEC) is a nonprofit corporation that registers California tax preparers who, for a fee, assist with or prepare state or federal income tax returns (excluding CPAs, EAs, attorneys and certain financial institutions).

This corporation applies only to California paid preparers, as do the updated requirements below.

New CTEC requirements for 2020 include background checks and fingerprinting images. This change affects NEW applicants to determine their eligibility to register as a Certified Registered Tax Preparer (CRTP), beginning on July 1, 2020.

Here’s what new applicants interested in registering with CTEC can expect:

  1. Applicant will complete an online application process at www.ctec.org, which includes:
    • Providing personal and background information
    • Creating a login account
    • Completion of live scan fingerprinting process
    • Completion of 60 hours of qualifying education
  2. CTEC-approved education providers will then report completed education to the council
    • Last name and last six digits of the Social Security number must match records in the CTEC system for education to be reported
  3. CTEC will complete the background investigation
  4. Applicant will complete registration, including:
    • Acquisition of a tax preparer surety bond
    • Payment of registration fee
  5. CTEC ID is issued

Also, beginning July 1, 2020, if a CRTP allows their CTEC registration to expire and they would like to reregister, they will not only be required to retake the 60-hour qualifying education course but will also need to go through another background check and resubmit fingerprint images to CTEC.

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penAbout National Association of Tax Professionals

The National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) is the largest association dedicated to equipping tax professionals with the resources, connections and education they need to provide the highest level of service to their clients. NATP is comprised of over 23,000 leading tax professionals who believe in a superior standard of ethics and exemplify professional excellence. Members rely on NATP to deliver professional connections, content expertise and advocacy that provides them with the support they need to best serve their clients. The organization welcomes all tax professionals in their quest to continually meet the needs of the public, no matter where they are in their careers.

The NATP headquarters is located in Appleton, WI. To learn more, visit www.natptax.com.

Information included in this article is accurate as of the publish date. This post is not reflective of tax law changes or IRS guidance that may have occurred after the date of publishing. All taxpayer circumstances are different, and NATP recommends contacting research services if you have specific questions about your clients’ tax situations.

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