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Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
Our courses are online. Once you purchase the course you have immediate access to it. You can go in and out of the course at your convenience for up to six months (one year for Notary and Enrolled Agent Exam Review Course). The reading material is built within the course and is presented in an online E-Book format making the reading material portable if you prefer to work offline. Our tax and notary course features automatic grading, a detailed review of your missed quiz questions, and full instructor support. You will have unlimited number of tries to pass the quizzes and the final exams*. Discussion forums are available within the course. Once you complete the course with a 70% or better, you have access to print your own certificate of completion (*Note: The 6 hour AFTR course is limited to 6 attempts).
We have been in business since 1995. We have been online since 2001 and are one of the first e-tailers.
You will have access to the course for six months from the date of purchase with the exception of the Enrolled Agent Exam Review Course and our Notary Courses which you will have access to for one year from the date of purchase.
If you are not completely satisfied with our course, we will offer you a full refund within thirty days of purchasing. No refunds are given for group orders or to students who have submitted more than quiz or any final exams.
The reading material is built within the course in an E-Book format with chapters and can be printed.
Yes, you will work at your own pace and will have access to the course for up to six months from the date of purchase (one year for Enrolled Agent Exam Review Course and Notary Course).
You may email us at info@platinumprostudies.com or call us at 877 315 1772, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 6:00pm, PT. We also offer Live Chat. We will try to return your email or phone call by the end of the business day.
Our business hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 6:00pm, PT.
Tax Preparer FAQs
Our courses are online. Once you purchase the course you have immediate access to it. You can go in and out of the course at your convenience for up to six months (one year for Notary and Enrolled Agent Exam Review Course). The reading material is built within the course and is presented in an online E-Book format making the reading material portable if you prefer to work offline. Our tax and notary course features automatic grading, a detailed review of your missed quiz questions, and full instructor support. You will have unlimited number of tries to pass the quizzes and the final exams. Discussion forums are available within the course. Once you complete the course with a 70% or better, you have access to print your own certificate of completion.
All tax preparers who are preparing tax returns for compensation must obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The PTIN can be obtained here.(http://www.irs.gov/ptin) In addition, you must either take the 15 Hour IRS AFSP Continuing Education Course (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/irs-afsp-continuing-education)or the 18 Hour IRS AFSP Continuing Education Course w/AFTR.(https://www.platinumprostudies.com/irs-afsp-ce-including-aftr) (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/irs-afsp-ce-including-aftr)The 15 hour course is for those who have: Completed one of more of the following national or state tests:
• Registered Tax Return Preparers Oregon/California/Maryland and other state based return preparer testing programs
• Accredited Tax preparer test offered by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy/Taxation Part 1 of the Special Enrollment Exam during the 2 year eligibility window Successful Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program reviewers an instructor
Those who did not complete the above must complete 18 hours of education in order to participate in the Annual Filing Season Program. Note that those who are in California, Oregon, Maryland, Iowa, Connecticut, and New York will need to fulfill the state requirements as well.
The deadline for completing the annual 20 hours of continuing education, is October 31st. After October 31st, you can still register until January 15th, but you will need to pay an additional late fee.
The CTEC 60 Hour Qualifying Tax Course (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/ctec-qualifying-tax-course-60-hour)is competitively priced at $136.00
The CTEC 20 Hour Continuing Education Tax Preparer Course (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/ctec-irs-ce-tax-course)start at $45.00.
In order for Platinum to report your completion to CTEC you will need to go to www.ctec.org (www.ctec.org)and create an account as a new tax preparer. You will receive a CTEC ID which you will add to your account so we can report your completion. Once you pass the course, the next step is to obtain a PTIN. You will need to obtain a PTIN (Personal Tax Identification Number) with the IRS at irs.gov/PTIN.(http://www.irs.gov/ptin) You will also need to obtain a Tax Preparers bond. Platinum Professional Services offer Tax Preparer Bonds (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/bonds-for-california-tax-preparers)through an affiliate. Since Platinum Professional Services reports the completion of the course to CTEC electronically, you can register online without having to mail anything. Go to: http://www.ctec.org (http://www.ctec.org)to complete the registration process. In addition you will need to complete a background check and fingerprinting. You will not need your course information, as it has already been reported. However, you will need your bond information. Note: We will report all completions to CTEC within three business days.
Yes, it also includes three hours of federal tax updates, ten hours of federal tax law, and five hours of California state tax law.
Platinum Professional Services offers Tax Preparer Bonds (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/bonds-for-california-tax-preparers)through an affiliate.
Yes, since Platinum Professional Studies reports the completion of the Course to CTEC electronically, you can register online without having to mail anything. Go to: http://www.ctec.org (http://www.ctec.org)to complete the registration process. You will not need your course information, as it has already been reported. You will need your bond information. Note: We will report all completions to CTEC within three business days.
Have you received your certificate of completion? If you have not received your certificate of completion from within your course, it will not be marked as complete and Platinum Professional Services will not be notified of your completion.
Have you waited three business days, prior to trying? Allow this time so that the system can be updated.
Check that your CTEC ID is in your account. If it is not, you will need to add it and then email us with that information at customersupport@platinumprostudies.com.
If none of the above applies, and you still can not register, contact Platinum Professional Services at customersupport@platinumprostudies.com.
Yes, the State of Oregon requires that individuals that prepare tax returns for compensation obtain a Tax Preparer License. The Tax Preparer License enables a person to lawfully prepare personal income tax returns in the State of Oregon. A tax preparer must work under the supervision of a Licensed Tax Consultant, a Certified Public Accountant, a Public Accountant, or an Attorney who prepares tax returns for their clients. The state of Oregon requires all paid Tax Preparers to complete an Oregon 80 Hour Basic Tax Course (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/oregon-basic-tax-course-80-hour)and pass an exam (administered by Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners).
Licensees are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours continuing education as a prerequisite to renewing their license each year. You can find the Oregon 30 hour CE course here.(https://www.platinumprostudies.com/oregon-irs-cpe-tax-courses)
By participating in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program you will be included in the IRS’s public directory of tax return preparers. Additionally, as a program participant, you have limited representation rights, you can represent your clients whose returns you have prepared and signed before examination, customer service representatives, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service in the year you participate in the program.
In order to participate in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) you must complete 18 or 15 IRS credit hours of continuing education. The 15 hour IRS continuing education tax course includes 10 hours of federal tax law topics, 2 hours of ethics, and 3 hours of updates and is available from January 1st - December 31st. The 18 hour IRS continuing education tax course includes 6 hours of an Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) course with a knowledge based comprehension test, 10 hours of federal tax law topics and 2 hours of ethics. The 18 hour IRS tax course is available each year from June 1st - December 31st. The program is directed to preparers who are not Attorneys, CPAs or Enrolled Agents. In order to determine whether to take a 15 hour or an 18 hour IRS tax course the guidelines are listed below.
Tax return preparers who have successfully completed one of the following national or state tests would be exempt from taking the Annual Federal Tax Refresher course with a comprehension test.
• Passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) test before 1/18/2013
• Oregon/California/Maryland and other state based return preparer testing programs
• Accredited Tax preparer test offered by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy or Taxation
• Passed Part 1 of the Special Enrollment Exam (aka: SEE and EA Exam) during the 2 year eligibility window
• Successful Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program reviewers and instructors
If a credentialed tax professional (CPA, attorney, Enrolled Agent, Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent, Enrolled Actuary) or the exempt group listed above wants to be a part of the Annual Filing Season Program, they must have 15 hours of continuing education from an IRS approved provider. The 15 credit hours will need to include 3 hours of federal tax updates, 10 Hours of Federal tax law topics, and 2 hours of Ethics. No CE credit will be given to Enrolled Agents for completing an AFTR course.
Platinum Professional Services offers both the IRS AFSP 18 Hour including the AFTR tax course and the IRS AFSP CE 15 Hour tax course. Once you complete the IRS Continuing Professional Education tax course you will receive a Certificate of Completion from Platinum. Platinum will then report your completion to the IRS electronically. When the tax preparer has met all three requirements for the AFSP (renewed their PTIN, taken appropriate amount of continuing education, completed and passed the AFTR course/test if required), a record of completion will be available in the PTIN holder's online IRS account for printing. Any "unenrolled" preparer not already bound by Circular 230 will need to sign an agreement to follow sub-part b of Circular 230 before being able to print the record of completion from the Internal Revenue Service. There will be no cost to the preparer for the AFSP record of completion. The IRS will then list AFSP tax preparers in their public database including the tax preparer's credentials.
Platinum Professional Services is approved by the Internal Revenue Service (approval #JK8E2) to offer both the IRS AFSP CE 18 Hour Tax Course including AFTR (https://www.platinumprostudies.com/irs-afsp-ce-including-aftr)as well as IRS AFSP CE 15 Hour Tax Course.(https://www.platinumprostudies.com/irs-afsp-continuing-education) Platinum also offers an IRS AFSP Tax Return Preparer Prep Course including AFTR.(https://www.platinumprostudies.com/irs-tax-return-preparer-prep-course)
Enrolled Agent FAQs
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals.
“Enrolled” means to be licensed to practice by the federal government, and “Agent” means authorized to appear in the place of the taxpayer at the IRS. Only Enrolled Agents, attorneys, and CPAs may represent taxpayers before the IRS. The Enrolled Agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who represented citizens in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department.
Enrolled Agents advise, represent, and prepare tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts, and any entities with tax-reporting requirements. Enrolled Agents’ expertise in the continually changing field of taxation enables them to effectively represent taxpayers audited by the IRS.
The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 allow federally authorized practitioners (those bound by the Department of Treasury’s Circular 230 regulations) a limited client privilege. This privilege allows confidentiality between the taxpayer and the Enrolled Agent under certain conditions. The privilege applies to situations in which the taxpayer is being represented in cases involving audits and collection matters. It is not applicable to the preparation and filing of a tax return. This privilege does not apply to state tax matters, although a number of states have an accountant-client privilege.
Only Enrolled Agents are required to demonstrate to the IRS their competence in matters of taxation before they may represent a taxpayer before the IRS. Unlike attorneys and CPAs, who may or may not choose to specialize in taxes, all Enrolled Agents specialize in taxation. Enrolled Agents are the only taxpayer representatives who receive their right to practice from the U.S. government (CPAs and attorneys are licensed by the states).
There are two tracks to become an IRS Enrolled Agent, which are outlined in Treasury Department Circular 230, Regulations Governing the Practice of Attorneys, Certified Public Accountants, Enrolled Agents, Enrolled Actuaries, and Appraisers, before the Internal Revenue Service. All candidates are also subjected to a rigorous background check conducted by the IRS. The IRS website also provides information on the enrollment process. Prometric administers the exam process for IRS.
The two tracks are:
1. You can become an enrolled agent by demonstrating special competence in tax matters by taking a online Enrolled Agent examination administered by Prometric. This track requires that you:
• Apply to take the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE); see below
• Achieve passing scores on all parts of the SEE;
• Apply for enrollment on Form 23; and
• Pass a background check to ensure that you have not engaged in any conduct that would justify the suspension or disbarment of an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent from practice before the IRS.
2. You can become an enrolled agent by virtue of past service and technical experience with the IRS that qualifies you for enrollment. This track requires that you:
• Possess the years of past service and technical experience specified in Circular 230;
• Apply for enrollment Form 23; and
• Pass a background check to ensure that you have not engaged in any conduct that would justify the suspension or disbarment of an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent from practice before the IRS
Full information about how to register for the SEE can be found at http://www.prometric.com/IRS. There are three parts of the exam, which are:
Part 1 – Individuals
Part 2 – Businesses
Part 3 – Representation, Practice and Procedures
For quick reference, here are a few key details about the exam:
• Exams will be offered May 1 through February 28 of each year. There is no testing in March or April.
• Candidates may schedule each part of the exam at their convenience, in any order. It is not required to take all parts in one sitting.
• Exam fees are $203 per part.
• Prometric maintains approximately 300 test sites throughout the US and internationally. To enter the testing facility, you must present a valid, government-issued identification card containing both your signature and picture.
• Each part of the new exam will have about 100 questions, along with a small number of experimental questions that will not be scored (you will not know which questions will count towards your score and which are included to gather statistical information on questions prior to being added to the exam).
The exam includes three types of multiple choice questions: direct question, incomplete sentence and all of the following except.
• Exam results are scaled, by calculating the number of questions answered correctly from the total number of questions asked and converting to a scale that ranges from 40 to 130.
• Test results are available immediately following the exam. Candidates who pass are not told their score, simply that they passed. Candidates who fail will be told their score, as well as diagnostic information to help prepare for re-examination.
• Candidates who do not pass a part of the exam after four attempts during the May 1 through February 28 test window must wait until the next testing period before attempting the part again.
• Candidates have a two year window from the time they pass the first part to pass the other two parts of the exam.
With our EA Exam Review Course, you will study and review the tax knowledge required to successfully pass the IRS Enrolled Agent Exam (also known as the Special Enrollment Examination or the SEE). The course will highlight to you those subjects that you may need to gain additional knowledge in, and covers all of the key areas of taxation that is covered by the exam including individual returns, business entity returns, practice before the IRS and tax practitioner ethics. You can find the course here: Enrolled Agent Exam Review Course.(https://www.platinumprostudies.com/enrolled-agent-exam-review-course)
Enrolled Agents renew their license on a staggered schedule, based on the last digit of the enrolled agent’s social security number. The current fee for renewal is $30 per year. To be eligible for renewal for the enrollment cycle, Enrolled Agents must complete 72 continuing professional education (CPE) credit hours for the three year cycle, with a minimum of 16 CPE per year. Two CPE credit hours per year must be in Ethics.
Platinum Professional Services offers Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Tax Courses that are designed to enhance an Enrolled Agents professional proficiency in federal taxation or federal tax related matters.
You can find the courses here: EA Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Courses.(https://www.platinumprostudies.com/enrolled-agent-continuing-education)
Notary FAQs
A Notary Public is a public servant appointed by state government to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths.
Documents are notarized to deter fraud and to ensure they are properly executed. An impartial witness (the Notary) identifies signers to screen out impostors and to make sure they have entered into agreements knowingly and willingly.
Every person appointed as a Notary Public shall:
• Be 18 years of age or older (there is no maximum age set by statute) and
• Be a legal California resident
• Complete a the mandatory 6 hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State
• Satisfactorily complete and pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State
• Clear a background check (information on fingerprinting below)
Platinum Professional Services offers the California Secretary of State approved Notary Public Course that is 100% online and meets the mandatory, six hour education requirement mandated by the California Secretary of State. This course is approved by the California Secretary of State and fulfills the State six hour education requirement for new and renewing Notary Publics.
Click here to learn more about our Notary course.(javascript:void(0))
After you take the mandatory 6 hour course, you must satisfactorily complete and pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State. CPS administers the testing. Click here (https://www.cpshr.us/notary/info_fees.php)for current testing information and schedules.
You can sign up for the California notary exam here.(https://exam-registration.cpshr.us/notary/exam-registration)
To take the exam you will need:
• A current photo identification (e.g. California Driver's License or Identification Card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles or U.S. Passport);
• A complete and current Notary Public Application;
• A 2" x 2" color passport photo of yourself;
• The Proof of Completion certificate of your six-hour approved education course;
• The registration confirmation letter; and
• The $40.00 exam and application processing fee (or $20.00 exam fee for applicants who previously took the exam and failed). Payment must be by check or money order made payable to the Secretary of State (cash is not accepted at the exam site).
There are 45 multiple choice questions and you have 60 minutes to complete the test. You must get 70% or better to pass.
Result Notification: Results from your Notary Public Examination will be emailed (if you provided an email address on the upper right corner of your application) or mailed via USPS approximately 15 business days following the examination. Result information will not be discussed over the phone.
If you listed an email address on your application, a message containing your user name and password will be sent to you from CPScontact@cpshr.us. Receipt of this message indicates we have processed your application.
This message is automatically generated and may not clear any “spam” filters. In this case, the message is likely to be in your “junk” mailbox. Exam results will be ready approximately 15 business days after the exam date.
To view your results notification online, select the “My Account” link located in the toolbar on the right side. Once logged in, select “View Notifications” to see a copy of your exam results letter. Exam results are available approximately 15 business days after the exam date.
Fingerprints are submitted after you pass the state examination. Details are mailed with your testing results. You will need to submit fingerprints via live scan to the Department of Justice and FBI for your thorough background check. Click (https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations)here for live scan fingerprint locations throughout California.
Once you have done this you will wait for your commission paperwork to arrive (8 to 12 weeks from exam date). For renewing notaries, the commission paperwork for the new commission will be mailed out no sooner than 1 month prior to commission expiration.
Yes, you will need to order your official Notary Public stamp and journal. You can not notarize any documents until you obtain your Notary Public seal and journal.
Order your Notary Public Stamp and Journal (http://www.allstatenotarysupplies.com/category.aspx?categoryID=39)
Yes, you must obtain a Notary Public Bond. The bond is for the required four year term and $15,000. You must obtain your bond before you are sworn in as a Notary Public at your County Clerk Recorders office. Do not delay, you have only 30 days from the date of the Secretary of State's mailing to obtain your bond and be sworn in as a Notary.
Notary Public Bond(javascript:void(0))
To renew your commission, you will need to take a 3 hour mandatory course every four years. The 3 hour course has all the same knowledge points as the 6 hour course. Therefore, Platinum Professional Services only offers the 6 hour course. You then will be required to take the exam, and submit live scan fingerprints.
Learn more about our California Notary Class(javascript:void(0))
CPA FAQs
A CPA is a certified public accountant and licensing is issued by each individual state or jurisdiction. Each state or jurisdiction has a separate licensing board that determines and governs specific requirements but in general, CPA exam requirements include:
• A Bachelor's Degree-this is the first and most important CPA exam requirement
• Completion of a minimum number of credit hours in business and accounting
Depending on the state and the jurisdiction that you live in, the requirements may vary slightly, which is why it is important to ensure that you are aware of not only of all general requirements but also of any state specific CPA requirements that apply to you.
The two most important goals to focus on in your quest to become a CPA are passing the Uniform CPA Exam and meeting licensing requirements. The Uniform CPA Exam is developed by the AICPA with significant input and assistance by NASBA and state boards of accountancy. It is designed to assess the knowledge and skills entry-level CPAs need to practice public accountancy. Passing the CPA Exam is only one step in meeting the licensing requirements that must be completed.
The steps are referred to as the “Three Es” (Education, Examination and Experience), and completion of the three steps is required for licensure as a CPA in the U.S. The successful completion of the Uniform CPA Exam is a requirement in all 55 jurisdictions; but the Education and Experience requirements may vary for each state or jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions also require an additional exam in ethics in order to obtain a license (sometimes referred to as the fourth “E”). The CPA license is the only license for accounting professionals and is issued by state boards of accountancy in the 55 jurisdictions (there is not a national CPA license). To review the testing requirements and other helpful information for your State or jurisdiction, you can go to this link,(https://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/) provided by NASBA.
The CPA Exam is a 14-hour, computer-based test comprised of four sections:
• Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
• Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
• Regulation (REG)
• Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
The CPA exam employs a combination of question formats. It includes the traditional multiple choice questions and essays, as well as highly innovative simulations – questions that replicate workplace situations and require the application of knowledge and skills to arrive at solutions. Today the Uniform CPA exam is a state-of-the-art licensure examination – technologically advanced and psychometrically sound. The details for each section of the exam are as follows:
Auditing & Attestation
• Standards
• Planning and Evidence
• Internal Controls
• Obtaining Document Information
• Compilations and Reviews
• Preparing the Communications
(4.5 hours – 3 multiple choice testlets, 2 simulations)
Financial Accounting & Reporting
• Business Enterprises
• Governmental Entities
• Not-For-Profit Organizations
• Typical Items in Financial Statements
(4 hours – 3 multiple choice testlets, 2 simulations)
Regulation
• Federal Taxation of Individuals
• Federal Taxation of Entities
• Business Law
• Professional Responsibilities
• (3 hours – 3 multiple choice testlets, 2 simulations)
• Business Environment and Concepts
• Economic Concepts
• Financial Management
• Information Technology
(2.5 hours – 3 multiple choice)
Each calendar year has four "testing windows" in which a person can sit for their CPA Exam. For the first two months of each quarter, a person can sit for any or all sections of the examination in any order. The third month in each quarter is a "blackout" month in which no exams may be scheduled. Candidates must pass these these four sections over a period of 18 months so it is important to plan a schedule for when you want to take each part of the CPA Exam to ensure that you don't lose credit for any exam sections by going over the 18 month rolling window. You cannot take the same section of an exam more than once during any testing window. For example, if you sit for FAR in January, you could also sit for AUD, but you would not be able to retake FAR until April.
CPA Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is required to maintain your license and the requirements vary for each state. Continuing education for CPA professionals can be done online in almost every state, allowing you to keep your license current while saving you time and money.
The continuing professional education requirements in California are as follows: no CPE is required during the first year of licensure. If the license was issued in an even-numbered year, 40 hours of CPE are required to renew the license the following year. Eight of the 40 hours must be in auditing and accounting subjects. After the first renewal period, the CPE requirement is 80 hours every two years. A minimum of 20 hours must be earned in each year. Sixteen of the 80 hours must be obtained in auditing and accounting subjects.
The following State Boards no longer maintain a formal CPE Sponsor program. Instead, they have defined the requirements for acceptable CPE courses and Platinum Professional Services courses meet these standards. Platinum Professional Services offers a formal program of self study, provides interactive self study CPE courses, and issues certificates of completion for all courses as proof that you completed a course. All Platinum Professional Services self study courses meet the requirements for Interactive Self Study defined by the NASBA / AICPA standards for self study CPE programs, which is why our CPE courses can be used in the following states.
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General FAQs
Tax Preparer FAQs
Enrolled Agent FAQs
Notary FAQs
CPA FAQs
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