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I am not sure how many times I called the EA "hotline" between March and May, probably 25 -30, after they notified me via email my cpe hours were short, which they were not. I believe anyone who works at the IRS should be able to do basic math. I responded to that email four times. It stated my renewal form could not be processed until I responded, or I would be placed inactive. The canned email response said be patient, don't email anymore, we will resolve this within sixty days. Then Monday I get a letter that I did not send in renewal or the $140, which I did Jan 7. This Tuesday, after I got the letter, I got that "no live assistance available" recording several times, and other times got through to be put on hold. All day, with several disconnects. Yesterday, I spoke to a rep after being on hold from 8:00 to 9:40 EST. It has gotten so much harder to get through to the IRS on all fronts, except for automated/electronic means. It just adds to the aggravation. I have been trying to get a transcript just reporting estimated payments for a client, long story about the many obstacles, since February. I am seriously considering hanging it up and retiring. The only thing that stops me is my wonderful clients, many of whom I have a very long standing relationship with. I will truly miss some of them, and have no one to refer them to. I stopped taking new clients four years ago, and have never turned away more business. But this has turned into a grind, and the headaches, deadlines, increasing overhead expense, the regulation, and an unresponsive IRS makes it harder. I don't know about y'all, but I feel less than appreciated/supported by the system, and this latest incident with my EA renewal really accentuated that to me. It is a very difficult work place when you can't talk to "the boss", or get cooperation. It's all stick with no carrot. Patti, I hope it worked out for you!

Patti, Maybe you did get renewed since card is dated after the letter. I would still keep calling until you get confirmation. I guess a lot of letters went out and they have high call volume, but I had no luck from March to May trying to get a human on the line. Just make it your mission. I went ahead and joined here. Lots of good posts about multiple topics on this board.

Hello, I am not a member here, but I am a sole practitioner EA. I have always renewed on time and never had a problem until this year. I submitted and paid for my 8554 on January 7. March 20 I received an email stating I was two hours short on CPE. However, that was not the case and my CPE was all properly accounted for in my online PTIN account. On March 21 I took time out of busy season, and completed four more hours, since the email said I lacked two, and they could be made up. I emailed the office back four times and got two canned emails, unsigned, back, stating to be patient and they would resolve my issue within two months. I called multiple times without ever reaching anyone. Then, two days ago, I got letter 5507 stating I had been placed inactive because I failed to file 8854! Yesterday I was on hold all day, never reached anyone, got two "courtesy disconnects". Today I called within a minute of their office opening, finally got to speak to an agent after being on hold an hour and forty minutes. She said yes, I had the cpe, did not need the extra hours, yes, they had my 8554, and reinstated me. It was a mistake, didn't know why, they had been getting hundreds of calls. Well, yes, I imagine so, since you are taking away credentials and livelihoods. But, she did help me, and said to expect my card in 14-20 days. I just hope this is the end of it. I found this post while scouring the internet for EA renewal problems. That was my experience, and I wanted to share it. The whole experience eroded my confidence in the system, it is wrong that one complies with every professional requirement, and then has to waste time and be stressed to the max to rectify their error. To the OP: you need to reach them, don't be deterred, I think you are indeed inactive. We work in this system, and need to be able to reach the IRS. It is disturbing that someone who cannot count cpe hours has the authority to initiate such confusion, and I would recommend they have two people look at t before they slap inactive on your renewal. Also, the letter was dated 4/14, but I received it 5/12, something I have noticed a lot in recent years with clients' IRS notices. Good luck to all fellow practitioners.