The National Society of Accountants Aug. 24 opposed any break from tax preparer identification proposed rules (REG-139343-08), for those who are licensed at the state level, while the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants argued that only tax preparers who sign a return should be forced to meet the Internal Revenue Service’s new requirements.

Tax preparers continued to push their particular agendas at an Aug. 24 IRS public hearing on proposed rules that would require them to pay a fee to obtain a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) and register with the IRS.

Enrolled agents said they objected to the annual registration period instead of the current three-year period they now have to renew their EA licenses.

The National Society of Accountants and the National Association of Enrolled Agents said they did not consider IRS’s proposed total fee of $64.25 to be too much. AICPA refused to comment on the registration fee itself, saying the full cost of getting the PTIN, testing, and continuing education for members of a CPA firm would be much greater. “We’re estimating the total burden on our membership is extreme,” said Ed Karl, AICPA vice president of taxation.

IRS has proposed that tax preparers pay a total of $64.25 annually to register with the IRS—a $50 fee IRS would collect for outreach, technology, and compliance efforts associated with the new registration program and a $14.25 fee for third-party vendor Accenture to operate the online system and provide customer support.

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