What you'll learn

You complete 18 hours of IRS approved continuing education, including a six hour Annual Federal Tax Refresher course and test, to earn a Record of Completion as an unenrolled paid tax preparer.

• Annual Federal Tax Refresher course and test
• 10 hours of federal tax law topics
• 2 hours of ethics
• Active PTIN and Circular 230 consent

Source: the provider's official page ↗

Is this right for you?

Level

Beginner People new to this. You can start today with no experience.

What you get

A certificate from a name employers know, ready to add to LinkedIn and your résumé the day you finish.

How you learn

Online, self paced.

How to use it

Add it to LinkedIn under Licenses and certifications, post it with one thing you learned, and name the exact skills on your résumé. Then bring it up in interviews and show how you use AI to get more done.

Why it's worth it

Fast, practical proof that you are ahead on AI. It shows initiative, gives you skills you can use the same day, and hands you something concrete to talk about with every hiring manager.

Time

18 CE hours per year.

Before you start

Active PTIN; 18 CE hours (6 hour AFTR course with comprehension test, 10 hours federal tax law, 2 hours ethics) from IRS approved providers; consent to Circular 230 obligations. Exempt preparers need 15 hours without AFTR.

How you are tested

Online or in person CE from IRS approved providers.

Renewal

Annual. For the 2027 filing season, CE must be completed by December 31, 2026, plus PTIN renewal.

Full cost details

IRS charges no program fee; CE course fees (including the 6 hour AFTR course) are set by each IRS approved CE provider. Requires an active PTIN ($18.75 for 2026).

Where it applies

United States federal; voluntary.

Earned this? Add it to LinkedIn and share it

Month earnedJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberYear20262025202420232022Credential ID optionalCredential link optional, https

Add to my LinkedIn profile ↗

Opens LinkedIn with the name and issuer filled in under Licenses & certifications. You review and save it there; Trusted AI Courses never posts for you. This is a course completion certificate: describe it as completed coursework, not a professional certification.

Tip: lead with what you did, not just the badge. Replace the line in brackets with something you built or improved using what you learned. List course certificates under Licenses & certifications or Courses, and keep them out of your headline.

Your post edit it however you likeI completed IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) Record of Completion from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and earned my certificate of completion. [Add one way you are using it in your work.] #Bookkeeping #Accounting #LearningNeverStops

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Sources and what we verified

IRS AFSP general requirements ↗IRS AFSP FAQ: no IRS fee, provider set fees, directory, deadlines ↗

What we verified: Confirmed on IRS pages today.

Fees and eligibility can change. Confirm current terms with the issuer before you pay.

Also listed for: AI for Bookkeepers