The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has opened the renewal process for preparer tax identification numbers (PTIN) for 2026. More than 800,000 tax preparers in the United States are required by law to renew their PTINs every year.
According to IRS regulations, anyone who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns or claims for refunds for compensation must have a valid PTIN and include it on all returns and claims submitted to the IRS. In addition, all enrolled agents—regardless of whether they actively prepare tax returns—must also renew their PTINs annually to maintain active status. Enrolled agents are licensed at the federal level and include attorneys authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
All PTINs issued for 2025 will expire on December 31, 2025. The fee to renew or obtain a PTIN remains unchanged at $18.75 for the upcoming year.
The IRS recommends that tax professionals use its online system to complete their renewal, noting that the process takes less than 15 minutes. A paper renewal option is available through Form W-12 but may take up to six weeks for processing.
Tax professionals can also use the online PTIN system to check completed continuing education credits, view how many 1040 returns have been filed using their PTIN, review communications from the IRS Return Preparer Office, and track progress in participating in the Annual Filing Season Program.
The online system now requires users to sign in with ID.me, a secure identity verification service used by several government agencies. Tax preparers who do not already have an ID.me account will need to create one before accessing the system.
“By law, anyone who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns or claims for refunds for compensation must have a valid PTIN and include it on all returns and claims filed with the IRS.”
“Also, all enrolled agents, regardless of whether they prepare tax returns, must renew PTINs annually to maintain their active status. Enrolled agents are licensed at the federal government level and include attorneys who represent taxpayers before the IRS.”
“PTINs expire on Dec. 31 of the calendar year for which they are issued. All 2025 PTINs will expire on Dec. 31, 2025.”
“The nonrefundable fee to renew or obtain a PTIN remains $18.75 for 2026.”
“The IRS encourages tax professionals to renew online, a process that takes less than 15 minutes. A paper renewal option is available, using Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) Application and Renewal PDF, but it can take six weeks for processing to be completed.”
“Tax pros can also use the online PTIN system to: Check their completed continuing education; View the number of 1040 returns filed using their PTIN; Review communications from the IRS Return Preparer Office; Track their progress for participation in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program.”
“The IRS Tax Professional PTIN System now uses a new, secure sign-in option: ID.me. ID.me is a trusted technology provider of identity verification and sign-in services, for taxpayers to securely access IRS tools. Tax preparers that do not have an ID.me will need to create one to access the IRS Tax Professional PTIN System.”
