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From Steven Siegel, in a CCH webinar on estate and trust taxation. "It's tax law - expect exceptions!"

You don't establish an accounting method unless you've used the same procedure (even if wrong) for two years. Since it sounds like she hasn't filed 2015 yet, you can just amend 2014 if it needs it. The vacation home rules may apply, so check that out too.

C'mon folks, we are talking about a $50 annual PTIN fee here. Most of us make three to five or six times that amount on a single tax return that takes less than an hour of our time. The PTIN does serve a purpose beyond the original one of replacing our SS numbers on signed returns. To some extent it helps the IRS track down dishonest or poorly trained preparers. For example, they now send letters to preparers who have too many errors on EITC, Sch C, and Sch E returns. How do they know who makes too many mistakes? The PTIN. At an IRS liaison meeting the presenter said in routine audits their staff record the PTINs and if the same number keeps popping up they target that preparer's returns. This is how they catch preparers who habitually inflate charitable deductions, employee business expenses, fuel tax credits, education credits, etc. The same unsubstantiated deductions appear on the majority of their returns, which authorities would never have figured out without the PTIN. What will be another plus is that preparers will be able to monitor the number of returns filed under their PTIN. Currently only EAs can do this, but I was told we were chosen because we were the smallest sample to test the process. Preparers have become the target of identity thieves, so at least we will be able to check if someone is filing returns under our PTINs. I will gladly give up one-fifth of my fee on a single tax return for this protection. I'm with Lion that the cost of the PTIN is inconsequential compared with the cost of everything else we need. E&O, tax prep software, Quickbooks, etc. seem to go up at a faster rate than we can raise our fees.

The IRS announcement says: The Internal Revenue Service announced that the “Get an IP PIN” tool has returned to IRS.gov with a stronger authentication process to help protect taxpayers. The Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) is given to taxpayers who are confirmed identity theft victims and to certain taxpayers who opt into the program. The six-digit IP PIN adds an additional layer of protection for the Social Security number. The re-launched tool uses a multi-factor authentication process that will help prevent automated attacks. Taxpayers must verify their identities using a more rigorous Secure Access process that requires them to have immediate access to an email address, account information from a credit card or other loan types and a text-enabled mobile phone. New and returning users must follow the Secure Access steps outlined in Fact Sheet 2016-20, How to Register for Get Transcript Online Using New Authentication Process. The Get Transcript Online tool was the first to use the Secure Access process, and the IRS continues to review its other online applications to determine which ones warrant the stronger verification process. Use of the IP PIN tool is limited to pre-selected taxpayers. Approximately 2.7 million IP PIN holders receive their number through the mail late in the calendar year in advance of the 2017 filing season. Those taxpayers who lose their IP PIN may use the tool to retrieve their number. Taxpayers who may be victims of non-tax related identity theft and who submitted an affidavit to the IRS may opt into the IP PIN program and obtain an IP PIN through the tool. Taxpayers from Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia also may obtain an IP PIN through the tool as part of a pilot project. End of IRS announcement.

Sorry, I very much disagree. The PTIN has become a tax and a powerful, unfettered hammer that the commissioner can wield against tax professionals without due process. The commissioner can pull your PTIN at any time and you cannot practice because it is now required for efile, and efile is required as well. There is no appeals process to stop this from happening. You can do absolutely nothing wrong and the commissioner can pull your PTIN and put you out of business. By the time you go through the bureaucracy to get it back, too late, you missed a season or two and you have no clients left. It isn't about the dollars, it is about the power. Never forget that government power affects the lawful more than it affects the lawless. Remember, the PTIN was a tool for practitioners to hide their social on tax returns. That is what it was created for. It is now required by the IRS to practice your profession. I am for preparer oversight and regulation. I have my EA license and I don't have a problem with renewing and paying for that license. I am also for IRS oversight and competency testing as well. If we had more professionals in the IRS, we might have a better tax system. They need to stop doing the president's dirty work and get rid of the Lois Lerners of the service. If they would have just fessed up about her, rather than let her piss off the Congress, they might have gotten some funding. Now they get what they deserve. Rant over. Tom Newark, CA

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No, because there are alternatives for acquiring CE. The IRS is one of many sources, so in this instance they are merely a vendor.

I'll pay the about same either way, because EA renewal fees went down to account for PTIN fees. And, those fees are small compared to software, computer upgrades, education, etc., each year. I, too, am optimistic enough that maybe PTINs might help track abusers. I resent those that tarnish our profession.