AFTR

2024 ANNUAL FEDERAL TAX REFRESHER (AFTR)

The Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) course exam must be successfully completed by December 31st (midnight local time) to receive credit. The IRS will not accept completions after this date. We report completions to the IRS based on the date and time you finished the exam.

This course is for non-exempt preparers (see who is exempt below) who want to receive an IRS Annual Filing Season Record of Completion. The 2024 AFTR course and test are required to be completed during 2024 by those return preparers to fulfill a requirement to be Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) participants during 2025.

CPAs AND ENROLLED AGENTS SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS COURSE.

Those with credentials who wish to earn the AFSP Record of Completion from the IRS may do so by taking a 3-hour Federal tax update in place of this course (6-hour AFTR). If you are an enrolled agent this course is not for you, it will not count toward IRS requirements. If you are an Enrolled Agent and wish to receive a record of completion you should take the 3-hour tax update course instead of the AFTR.

AFTR Exam Considerations

-You have a maximum of 3 continuous hours to complete the 100-question AFTR exam. Once the clock starts, it continues to run.

-You may attempt the test multiple times if you do not receive a minimum passing score of 70%.

-You must pass the exam by December 31st (midnight local time) to receive continuing education credit.

-Per IRS regulations, we cannot display any AFTR exam questions for completed exams.

Course Description

This 6-hour AFTR course provides a comprehensive review of the current provisions and recent changes to the tax code. Stay ahead of the curve in a competitive tax preparation environment with this course covering all of the essential developments impacting individual tax returns during the upcoming filing season. This course also includes a review of basic individual tax preparation information needed to prepare 2024 returns. Practices, procedures, and professional responsibility requirements mandated by Circular 230 are covered to equip the practitioner with the relevant information needed to complete a successful filing season.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the reader will be able to:

-Recognize the relevant changes affecting 2024 individual tax returns

-Identify the applicable inflation adjustments and thresholds affecting 2024 individual tax returns

-Distinguish potential sources of taxable income and deductible expenses

-Identify the rules of professional responsibility applicable to preparers and preparer penalties

Field of Study: Federal Tax

Course Level: Basic

Prerequisite: None

Delivery Method: live Online and Self-Study

IRS: 

CTEC: 

Expiration: In accordance with IRS policies, access to this course will terminate at the end of the year. Incomplete courses will no longer be accessible or reportable to the IRS beyond the end-of-year deadline.

The 18 hours must consist of:

-6 hours of IRS Annual Federal Tax Refresher

-2 hours of Ethics

-10 hours of Federal Tax Law Topics

Who is EXEMPT from taking this AFTR course?

Certain preparers are exempt from the AFTR course requirement because they have already completed other recognized state or national competency tests. However, if these individuals would like to earn the AFSP–Record of Completion, members of the exempt groups must still meet other program requirements.

Preparers who can obtain the AFSP–Record of Completion without taking the AFTR course are:

-Individuals who passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) test administered by the IRS between November 2011 and January 2013,

-Oregon, California, and Maryland preparers who are current with testing requirements within their state,

-Individuals who have passed Part 1 of the Special Enrollment Exam (SEE) within the past three years (as of the date of the upcoming filing season),

-VITA volunteers: Quality reviewers and instructors with active PTINs,

-Other accredited tax-focused credential-holders: The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation’s Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor (ABA) and Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) programs

-Credentialed preparers (attorneys, CPAs, EAs, ERPAs)

How does an exempt preparer earn the Annual Filing Season Program–Record of Completion without passing the AFTR?

EXEMPT PREPARERS can obtain the AFSP–Record of Completion by completing 15 hours of IRS-approved CE, consenting to Circular 230 practice requirements, and obtaining or renewing a valid PTIN for the filing season.

The 15 hours must consist of:

-3 hours of tax law updates

-10 hours of federal tax law topics

-2 hours of ethics

-You have a maximum of three continuous hours to complete the 100 question AFTR exam.

-You may attempt the test a maximum of 4 times to receive a passing score of 70%.

-You must pass the exam by December 31st (midnight local time) to receive continuing education credit.

Per IRS regulations, we cannot display any AFTR exam questions for completed exams.