Can You Skip Your Tax Preparer CE Course?

Anyone working in the tax preparation industry understands that keeping up with the rules, guidelines, and even trends of this industry is part of the job. With tax laws evolving, IRS guidance changing, and filing procedures being updated every now and then, you shouldn't risk serving your customers using outdated practices.

This makes continuing education (CE) a critical part of the profession. Still, many preparers keep asking whether they can skip their tax preparer CE course without that affecting their career. Here's what you should know about that.

Understanding the Short Answer to This Question

If you are one of those wondering whether skipping your continuing education course will ruin your career, the answer is it depends. Your credentials, jurisdiction, and long-term career goals should guide you towards the right decision.

General tax preparers aren't legally required to complete continuing education at the federal level. Only credentialed professionals such as Enrolled Agents and CPAs are mandated to take CE every few years.

Nonetheless, investing in tax preparer continuing education from a top provider like RocketCert, whether it is required or not, places you at an advantageous position in this profession. By keeping up with the rules and best practices that guide your practice, you can provide top-tier services that will keep your business growing over the years.

Why Should You Not Skip CE?

Continuing education requires a lot of effort, no doubt about that. But that shouldn't discourage you from taking these courses. Here's why:

1. When Tax Laws Change, It Isn't in Obvious Ways

Many preparers expect continuing education to focus on major legislation, and while that is the case sometimes, it doesn't always happen like that. Some of the most valuable lessons often involve small procedural changes that can create significant disadvantages if overlooked.

Such changes include updates to electronic filing requirements, changes to IRS administrative procedures, new documentation standards, and so on. They may look like minor updates, but they often create the biggest headaches during filing season as they affect the returns you prepare every other day.

2. Your Experience Isn't Always Enough

This is a common trap that the most experienced preparers fall into. That's in consideration that a professional with, say, twenty years of tax preparation certainly understands the fundamentals.

But the trick is that tax preparation is one of the few professions where experience alone can't compensate for changing regulations. That's because almost every filing season introduces new variables. Even if you are a veteran preparer, depending solely on your experience creates a possibility of becoming less accurate over time than newer professionals who consistently complete their continuing education.

3. Skipping CE Can Save Time Now But Cost Opportunities Later

Many times, continuing education doesn't look like it can be anything beyond a regulatory requirement. Behind the curtains, however, it is a marketing asset if you take it seriously. Clients are getting more options as newer professionals enter the industry, so they can be more selective when choosing someone to prepare their returns.

This is evident as many of these customers actively search the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers when looking for qualified professionals. Completing the Annual Filing Season Program and earning the Record of Completion increases your chances of appearing in that directory. This makes it more likely that your target clients will find you even when you aren't looking.

Ready to Dive In Now?

You know now that general tax preparers aren't federally required to complete continuing education every year. However, skipping CE isn't such a good idea if you love growth. The benefits of completing your CE courses evidently outweigh the cost of the time and effort you invest in doing so.

Besides, the simplified online tax preparer courses like the ones RocketCert offers even make learning fun. So, just in case you were unsure, now is the perfect time to visit rocketcert.com to see what they offer.