How to Get a PTIN: Steps for New Tax Preparers
How to Get a PTIN Before Your First Paid Return
A Preparer Tax Identification Number is the first federal requirement for anyone who wants to be paid to prepare tax returns. Before you complete a single return for compensation, whether as a seasonal employee at a tax office or as an independent preparer, you need a valid PTIN for the current year. The number goes in the paid preparer section of every return you sign and lets the IRS connect each return to the person who prepared it.
The good news is that learning how to get a PTIN is not complicated. For most U.S. applicants, the online application takes about 15 minutes, and the number is issued as soon as the application and payment are complete. This guide shows how to apply for a PTIN step by step, walks through the PTIN application itself, explains who needs one and who does not, covers the fee and annual renewal, and outlines what new preparers typically do next once the number is in hand.
Applying for Your PTIN: Who Needs One and What to Expect
Who must have a PTIN. The IRS requires a PTIN for anyone who is compensated for preparing, or assisting in preparing, all or substantially all of a federal tax return, claim for refund or certain other tax forms. That includes preparers who never sign a return but make substantive decisions that affect a client's tax liability. It also includes all enrolled agents, who must maintain a PTIN whether or not they prepare returns. People who perform only clerical work, such as data entry, scanning documents or organizing receipts, generally do not need one.
Basic PTIN requirements. You must be at least 18 years old. You will need your Social Security number, if you have one, along with your legal name, date of birth, personal and business mailing addresses, and a current email address that you check regularly, since the IRS uses it for secure messages about your account. If you hold a professional credential, such as CPA, attorney, enrolled agent or a state preparer license, have the certification number, issuing jurisdiction and expiration date ready. The application also asks you to explain any felony convictions and any problems with your own federal individual or business tax obligations.
Identity verification. The IRS PTIN system now routes applicants with a Social Security number through ID.me for identity verification and sign-in. If you already have an ID.me account from using other IRS or government services, you can generally use it. If not, set one up before you begin, and allow time for the verification step, which may require a photo of your ID and a selfie or a video call.
Applicants without a Social Security number. Foreign preparers who are not eligible for a Social Security number apply using paper Form W-12 along with Form 8946, the PTIN supplemental application for foreign persons, and supporting identity documents.
The fee. The fee to obtain or renew a PTIN for 2026 is $18.75 and is nonrefundable. It is paid online with a credit, debit or ATM card at the end of the application.
Paper applications. If you prefer not to apply online, you can mail Form W-12. Expect processing to take about six weeks, which is worth considering if filing season is close.
One number, one person. A tax preparer PTIN belongs to you personally. It stays with you if you change employers, and it is never shared with coworkers or assigned to a business. Using another person's PTIN, or allowing someone to use yours, is prohibited.
Timing your application. There is no benefit to waiting until January. If you are applying in the fall, check whether the PTIN system is issuing numbers for the current year or the upcoming one, since a PTIN obtained late in the year expires on December 31 and must be renewed for the next filing season. Many new preparers apply shortly after renewal season opens in October so the number is valid for the entire coming season.
PTIN Application Steps
Follow these steps in order to apply for a PTIN online.
Create Account
Go to the tax professional section of IRS.gov and open the PTIN system. Sign in through ID.me, or create an ID.me account if you do not already have one. Use a personal email address you control long term.
Complete Application
Enter your personal, contact and business information, then answer the questions about credentials and professional history. Review each entry carefully before moving on, especially your name and address, which should match IRS records.
Disclose Compliance History
Answer the questions about felony convictions and your own tax compliance truthfully, and provide explanations where required. Inaccurate answers can create problems later, including if you apply for an EFIN or enrolled agent status.
Pay The Fee
Pay the $18.75 fee for 2026 by card. The fee is nonrefundable, so confirm your information before submitting payment. Keep the receipt for your records.
Receive Your PTIN
When the application and payment are complete, your PTIN is issued online. Save the confirmation and record the number securely. Your tax software will ask for it when you set up your preparer profile.
Renew Annually
Every PTIN expires on December 31. Renew each fall, when the renewal season opens, so your number is valid for the next filing season. Renewal uses the same online system.
Update Information
Keep your address, email and credential details current in your PTIN account, and update them whenever something changes during the year. Continuing education credits from IRS-approved providers also appear in the account.
Next Steps for New Tax Preparers
A PTIN lets you prepare returns for pay, but it does not certify your knowledge, and it does not give you any right to represent clients before the IRS. The next steps depend on how you plan to work.
Build technical skills. New preparers often start with a structured course in individual income tax, followed by hands-on practice with sample returns. The IRS Link & Learn Taxes training used by volunteer programs is a free way to learn the fundamentals, and volunteering with an IRS-sponsored program provides real return experience under review.
Consider the Annual Filing Season Program. Preparers without an EA, CPA or attorney credential can complete this voluntary IRS program each year by finishing 18 hours of approved coursework: the six-hour Annual Federal Tax Refresher and its test, plus 10 hours of federal tax law and two of ethics. Participants receive a Record of Completion, are listed in the IRS public directory of preparers and gain limited representation rights for returns they prepared and signed.
Decide where you will file. If you join an existing firm, you will prepare returns under its Electronic Filing Identification Number. If you plan to open your own practice and e-file, your firm will need its own EFIN, which requires a separate IRS application and suitability check. Most preparers also need to follow the e-file requirement once they reasonably expect to file 11 or more individual returns in a year.
Protect client data from day one. Tax professionals are required to maintain a written information security plan. Use strong passwords, multifactor authentication and secure methods for collecting documents. Your PTIN itself is sensitive as well; criminals have used stolen preparer numbers to file fraudulent returns, so review the returns filed under your PTIN if your account shows unexpected activity.
Plan for renewal and continuing education. Put a reminder on your calendar for mid-October to renew your PTIN and to finish any continuing education before December 31.
The IRS explains the rules in detail on its page covering PTIN requirements for tax return preparers. Its consumer guide to filing a federal tax return is also worth reading, since clients will ask how their options compare. Structured support makes the first year easier. The beginner tax professional program at Manifest & Multiply Financials pairs training with ongoing guidance for new preparers. Participants obtain their own PTIN, and the program does not replace IRS requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
It identifies the paid preparer on each return and allows the IRS to oversee preparer compliance. Anyone compensated for preparing all or substantially all of a federal return must have a valid PTIN.
Be at least 18, have your Social Security number and personal and business contact details, complete ID.me verification, answer questions about felony convictions and personal tax compliance and pay the $18.75 fee for 2026.
Every year. All PTINs expire December 31. If yours lapses, you cannot legally prepare returns for pay until you renew it, and preparing returns without a valid PTIN can result in penalties.
The application requires you to disclose felony convictions and problems with your own tax obligations and to provide explanations. Disclosure does not automatically disqualify you, but unresolved tax issues are worth addressing before you begin. They carry more weight later if you apply for an EFIN, which involves a formal suitability check.
The firm's program for new tax professionals provides training and continued guidance as you build practical skills. You still apply for your own PTIN, and program terms are set out in a written agreement.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you need help with your taxes or want to explore a career in tax preparation, get to know our team or reach out today.