PROOF New Enforcement Results IRS Nationwide Tax Forums As of April 23, 2015, the deadline, the penalty is CTEC and FTB partnered in Registration is now open for the earn up to 18 federal hours. certificate to CTEC and renew Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has removed. If the tax preparer 2005 to help better protect 2015 IRS Nationwide Tax your registration by mail (one of contacted 1,469 tax preparers does not comply or complies taxpayers against Forums. CTEC will have a table If you plan to attend, please the few exceptions to the CTEC statewide. Of those, FTB visited late, the $2,500 penalty stands. fraud by enforcing tax preparer at the below forum: remember to provide your CTEC online registration requirement). 215 tax preparation offices and In the next year, if that tax compliance. CTEC pays for the number to the IRS when you San Diego sent letters to 1,254 tax preparer still fails to comply and entire enforcement program. All register. If you do not give the This is an IRS event so please do Town and Country Resort preparers. continues to prepare tax penalties collected by FTB are IRS your CTEC number, you not call CTEC with questions. August 11-13, 2015 returns, a $5,000 penalty will be deposited into the state’s may not get credit for the For more information or to So far 55 unregistered tax courses you take. register, visit irstaxforum.com. issued. general fund. CTEC is scheduled to preparers have been issued the participate in a joint $2,500 penalty for the 2015 Several weeks after the forum, presentation with the enforcement year. FTB also the IRS will either mail or email 2015 Enforcement Results Franchise Tax Board at the reports a total of 47 your course completion San Diego forum. The unregistered tax preparers have certificate. New Provider presentation will count for one now been issued a $5,000 1,469 Contacts state hour of continuing If you decide to skip San Diego Complaint Report penalty. education. CTEC Registered and go to one of the other Do you have an issue with a California law requires anyone Tax Preparers (CRTPs) who forums, you will have to submit CTEC-approved education who prepares tax returns for a attend the forums can also a copy of the IRS completion provider and would like to report fee and is not an attorney, it? Email CTEC at [email protected] certified public accountant or call 877-850-CTEC to fill out a (CPA) or enrolled agent (EA), to complaint form. register as a tax preparer with CTEC Registrations CTEC. Below is a snapshot of CTEC registrations over the past five years.

Tax preparers who are caught preparing tax returns illegally are Find CTEC issued a $2,500 penalty letter from FTB and have 90 days to comply. If a tax preparer 215 Visits 1,469 Letters MARK YOUR CALENDAR! registers with CTEC by the YOU ARE INVITED!

CTEC committee and board meetings are open Senators Unveil Bill to Regulate Tax Preparers to the public Two Democrats on the Senate Finance regulate paid tax preparers. The bill would require May 21-22, 2015 Committee have introduced legislation to regulate tax preparers to show competency in preparing Sacramento, CA paid tax preparers. tax returns, claims for refunds and related November 19-20, 2015 documents. Napa, CA Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Ben Cardin, D-Md., The legislation was introduced in response to the Call 877-850-CTEC unveiled the legislation on January 8, 2015 to give Loving v. IRS court case, which ruled the IRS did 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 if you would like to attend the Treasury Department and the IRS authority to not have the authority to regulate tax preparers. 44,147 43,674 41,934 38,481 39,458 page 2 page 3 PROOF CTEC news views

May 2015 • Vol. 21, No. 2

OFFICERS Chair Margy Dunn, EA National Association of Enrolled Agents Treasurer Aaron Gray, CRTP Long Beach, CA Public Awareness Campaign Secretary Susan Ring, CRTP Thanks to a mix of traditional requirements, California tax Palm Desert, CA media, social media and Internet preparers and enforcement DIRECTORS news sources, California efforts. John Bishop, CRTP taxpayers are getting the Oakland, CA message— Verify your tax Most of the views and shares Brandon Chanley came from Twitter and Pinterest. Jackson Hewitt Tax Services preparer is legal. C. Lester Crawford, CRTP Media Relations Advertising , CA Karen DeVaney, CRTP For the 2014/2015 public The 2014/2015 paid advertising CA Society of Tax Consultants awareness campaign, CTEC sent campaign focused on outdoor Susie DiMaggio, EA advertisements, social media

CA Society of Enrolled Agents press releases to editors, #CATaxEdCouncil (Facebook, Twitter and You Tube),

Ruth Godfrey, EA reporters and producers both FOLLOW OUR TWEETS! TWEETS! OUR FOLLOW National Society of Accountants statewide and nationally. CTEC and Google AdWords. For the first Mary Beth LaMunyon-Jones, CRTP secured a total of 47 media and time ever, CTEC also advertised Lemoore, CA blog reports from a number of through print media to reach the Paul Latter Asian Community, specifically H&R Block Tax Services prominent news sources, including CBS News Money Chinese and Filipinos, in Southern Heather Smith California. Liberty Tax Service Watch, San Francisco Chronicle, Ann Springborn, RTRP KTVU-TV San Francisco, News 10 Billboards were displayed in National Association of Tax Professionals Sacramento, La Opinion, World Katie Tae, CRTP Fresno, San Diego and Gardena, CA Journal, KGET-TV Bakersfield and Sacramento. Bus signs were KSEE-TV Fresno. REPRESENTATIVES posted in Los Angeles, Fresno and Bakersfield. CTEC Amy Smith Twenty-four radio stations also Internal Revenue Service advertisements were also printed aired CTEC public service Jennifer Roussel in the Los Angeles World Journal announcements in English and California Franchise Tax Board and Asian Journal. Spanish. Visual Marketing The decision to advertise in those

markets was based on

Sacramento, CA 95812-2890 CA Sacramento, For the second year, CTEC enforcement reports from the

P.O. Box 2890 Box P.O.

Permit No. 1789 No. Permit California Tax Education Council implemented a visual marketing Franchise Tax Board.

California Tax Education Council Education Tax California

Sacramento, CA Sacramento, P.O. Box 2890 • Sacramento, CA campaign using four new

PAID 95812-2890 • (877) 850-CTEC(2832) infographics to reach taxpayers CTEC allocated $220,000 from its U.S. Postage U.S.

® www.ctec.org during the 2015 tax season. The 2014/2015 budget for the paid

Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit infographics highlighted CTEC advertising campaign.