Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums Online?
Who is responsible for the Nationwide Tax Forums Online?
Can I receive CPE Credit for viewing a seminar?
How do I purchase a seminar for CPE credit?
What can I do on my status page?
What is the cost for a CPE credit?
What is the cost to view a seminar if I do not want CPE credit?
How do I view a course without receiving credit (audit)?
How can I get more information about the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums?
Who do I contact if I have questions or need more information?
What equipment do I need to access this site?
I get an error message when trying to access video content
I get an error message when trying to open the video transcripts
What do I need to know about this site to view it properly?
What is the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums Online?
The Nationwide Tax Forums Online (NTFO) is a product of the IRS Communications and Liaison Office.
It is a website which provides current information a tax professional needs, as well as information on IRS procedures and processes through a series of videos (with accompanying PowerPoint presentations) of selected IRS seminars from the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums that are held each year throughout the U.S.
Who is responsible for the Nationwide Tax Forums Online?
NTFO is the sole property of the Internal Revenue Service, and it is managed through the Office of National Public Liaison.
Can I receive CPE Credit for viewing a seminar?
Continuing professional education (CPE) credit is available for certain seminars. Please check seminar home pages to determine if credit is offered for the seminar you want to take. The IRS Return Preparer Office accepts certain seminars for one (1) CE credit for Enrolled Agents (EA). IRS Communications & Liaison is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.
To receive credit, you must first create an account on NTFO by creating a username and password. It is recommended that your password be at least six characters in length, and it can be any combination of letters, numbers, and punctuation that you choose.
You will also need to provide your first and last names, Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) (for EAs), and email address. Your name, PTIN, and email address will only be used to provide CPE credit to the IRS Return Preparer Office. Please ensure your PTIN is nine (9) characters in length: it should begin with “P” followed by eight (8) digits. If your name and PTIN do not match the IRS PTIN system, the IRS Return Preparer Office will not accept your CPE credit. Ensuring your name and PTIN are accurate will prevent delays in uploading your CPE credits.
Please check your email after creating your account. This check is done to verify your email address. Until you have completed your email address verification, you will not have access to the review questions or the final examination, and therefore will not be able to receive CPE credit.
You will use your username and password to log in to your account on NTFO. When you log in to the site, you will be directed to your status page. From the status page, you can take any seminar you have purchased, resume any purchased seminars that are in progress, download the PDF files of the Certificates of Completion earned for passed seminars, and review completed seminars.
Once you purchase a seminar, it will appear under the “In Progress” tab on your status page. Start the seminar by clicking on “Chapter one.” Once you complete a chapter, navigation will appear at the top of the screen and take you to the first review question, followed by the next chapter, etc. A review question follows each chapter. After you have completed the video and review questions, you must take and pass a final examination. The seminar may be viewed repeatedly; however, the final examination can only be attempted two times. You must achieve a passing rate of 70% on the final examination to receive CPE Credit.
How do I purchase a seminar for CPE credit?
To purchase a seminar, first create an account on NTFO. After logging in, you can purchase seminars either one at a time, or add seminars to a shopping cart and make a single purchase transaction for multiple courses. After completing the purchase through PayPal, you will be returned to your status page on www.irstaxforumsonline.com.
When you click the button to buy a seminar or to checkout the shopping cart, you will be taken to PayPal. Users will be asked to log in with an existing PayPal account, or to create a new PayPal account. The PayPal account is separate from the irstaxforumsonline.com account. The payment transaction occurs through PayPal, and once it is complete you can click the button and return to your status page on www.irstaxforumsonline.com. NOTE: Purchasing a course via PayPal e-check can take up to 10 business days to post. Your course will only appear in your Status Page after your e-check has cleared.
What can I do on my status page?
You can:
- Take a new seminar
- Resume previously started seminars
- Review previously completed seminars
- Review/download Certificates of Completion
What is the cost for a CPE credit?
Depending on the seminar, CPE credit costs either $49.00 or $67.50. There is no additional charge if the seminar is repeated. You will not receive additional credit for taking the same seminar. The seminars are purchased through PayPal.
If you lose or forget your password, you can request a new password. Just click on "Request New Password" at the bottom of the NTFO home page.
What is the cost to view a seminar if I do not want CPE credit?
There is no cost to audit or view a seminar without receiving CPE credit.
How do I view a course without receiving credit (audit)?
All seminars are able to be viewed without cost and for no CPE credit. You do not need to create an account to audit a seminar. You will have access to the video, PowerPoint and transcript. You will not have access to the Practice Questions and Answers or the Final Examination and will not receive CPE credit.
Each seminar is approximately 50 minutes long, but is broken into chapters for easier viewing. Each seminar is available online whenever you need it and includes a speaker presentation as well as any audience questions and answers from the seminar.
Be An Educated Preparer On Education Credits
Changes to the Innocent Spouse Relief Program
Current Estate and Gift Tax Issues
Heads Up! Keeping Current on Exempt Organizations
Helping Your Clients Understand their Rights
Key Circular 230 Provisions: What Every Tax Return Preparer Needs to Know
Meeting Your EITC Due Diligence
An Overview of Circular 230 and the Office of Professional Responsibility for the Newly (or Aspiring) Registered/Enrolled Practitioner
Overview of 2012 Income Tax Law Changes
Real Estate Concerns for Individuals
A Taxing Matter – Retirement
Trust Fund Recovery Penalty: Do You Know How to Navigate Appeals Examination When the Stakes are High? (Part 1)
Trust Fund Recovery Penalty: Do You Know How to Navigate Appeals Collection When the Stakes are High? (Part 2)
Understanding Payment Card, Third Party Network Payments and Basis Reporting
Update from the IRS Return Preparer Office (2012)
2011 Seminars
Advocating for Your Client in Innocent Spouse Cases
Appeals – Our Role in Resolving Offers in Compromise
Appeals – Our Role in Resolving Penalty Issues
Basics of New Estate Tax Law
A Day in the Life of an Exempt Organization’s Audit
Earned Income Tax Credit: Due Diligence for Preparers
The Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals
Goldilocks and Retirement Plan Contributions
Highlights of 2011 Tax Law Changes – Individual and Business
Keeping Current with IRS Collection
New Information Reporting Requirements for TY 2011 and TY 2012
Power of Attorney and Other Third Party Authorizations
Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
Update from the IRS Return Preparer Office
2010 Seminars
Circular 230 - A Primer
Estate and Gift Tax Law – What to Expect for 2010 Tax Returns
First-Time Homebuyer Credit
Form 2555 and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
Information Return Penalties
Refund Offset, Injured Spouse and Manual Refunds
Roth Conversions/Retirement Planning for Life Events
The Collection Process - Balancing Customer Service and Compliance
The Lien Process - Your Options
What's New for Return Preparers
Withholding on Foreign Athletes and Entertainers – Special Withholding Rules
2009 Seminars
Appeals – Effectively Representing Your Client – Collection Issues
Appeals – Effectively Representing Your Client – Examination Issues
Automated Underreported and Correspondence Exam Audits
Reporting and Withholding on Payments to Foreign Persons – A Broader Perspective
SEP Plan Pitfalls: Use the IRS SEP Plan Fix-It Guide to Keep Your Clients Out of Trouble
Staying Focused on the Basics: A Guide to the Collection Process
Audit-only Seminars
Auction and Consignment Sales
Changes to the ITIN Acceptance Agent Program
Charities and Their Volunteers: Working Together to Help the Public
Debt Cancellation
Filing W-2/W-3 and Verifications with SSA
Form 990 Information Return Workshop
International Issues for Nonresident Aliens and U.S. Citizens/Residents
Retirement Plan Choices for Self-Employed
Weathering the Storm: Helping Exempt Organizations in Troubled Times
How can I get more information about the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums?
For additional information on the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums, please visit www.irstaxforum.com.
Who do I contact if I have questions or need more information?
Please use the "Contact Us" tab in this website to submit your comments or questions. Please note that we will not respond to tax or personal inquiries. For more information please check Tax Topics, Frequently Asked Questions, Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA), or Tax Trails. You may also call our toll-free tax assistance line at 1-800-829-1040 for individual tax questions or 1-800-829-4933 for business tax questions.
What equipment do I need to access this site?
You need a computer with internet access. The site also requires Adobe Acrobat 8 and Flash Player 8.
I get an error message when trying to access video content
In order to view the videos, your computer must have the latest version of Flash Player 8 installed. You must also have a computer connection that does not block video content. If your network blocks video content, please contact your network administrator.
I get an error message when trying to open the video transcripts
In order to view the videos, your computer must have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat 8 installed.
What do I need to know about this site to view it properly?
This site is optimized to view at 1024 x 768 pixels resolution.
This site is optimized for Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox.
This site is optimized to view at 1024 x 768 pixels resolution.
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This site requires Flash Player 8.
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This site requires Adobe Acrobat 8.
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