More than 800,000 tax preparers in the U.S. are now able to renew their Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) for the 2026 tax season, the IRS has announced.
Paid tax preparers are required by law to maintain a valid PTIN to prepare federal tax returns for compensation.
Why It Matters
All tax professionals who prepare, or help to prepare, federal tax returns for compensation must have an active PTIN, and they must include it on all returns and claims submitted to the IRS. They are required to renew their PTIN every year, and failure to do so could result in the IRS issuing them a penalty, an injunction, or even disciplinary action.
This also applies to enrolled agents—regardless of their current tax return preparation status—if they want to maintain their active status.
What To Know
According to the official IRS news release, issued on Tuesday, the window to renew PTINs for the 2026 tax season is now open.
PTINs for the 2025 tax year are set to expire on December 31, 2025, and the fee for obtaining or renewing a PTIN for 2026 is $18.75, which is non-refundable.
The renewal can be completed online at IRS.gov/taxpros, and according to the IRS, the process should take less than 15 minutes. Those who prefer to renew via mail can do so using Form W-12, but the IRS warns that it could take up to six weeks for the renewed PTIN to come through.
The IRS also highlights new security procedures for 2026: Tax professionals with a Social Security number will be prompted to use ID.me—a secure, third-party identity verification log-in service—to access the PTIN renewal system. Tax preparers without a Social Security number will continue using the existing login method.
What People Are Saying
In the official statement, the IRS noted: “The Internal Revenue Service today reminds the more than 800,000 paid tax preparers that preparer tax identification numbers must be renewed annually, and the 2026 renewal period is now open. Anyone who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns or claims for refunds for compensation must have a valid PTIN and include it on all returns and claims filed with the IRS.”
The IRS also warns that “failure to have a current PTIN could result in the imposition of Internal Revenue Code section 6695 penalties, injunction, and/or disciplinary action by the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.”
Nik Agharkar, the owner of Crowne Point Tax, previously told Newsweek: “The IRS penalizes you daily for failure to file and/or failure to pay. While you may be able to challenge some of the penalties assessed, the interest will always run and always be due.”
What Happens Next
Tax professionals who fail to renew their PTINs before the December 31, 2025, deadline will be unable to prepare federal tax returns for compensation and may face compliance penalties. The IRS recommends beginning the renewal process early to avoid potential technical issues or delays—especially given the new multi-factor authentication login requirements.
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