EA renewal problem

[Patti in Upstate NY]

I renewed on 2/17/2025 and received my new card last week.   

Today, I received a letter telling me my status is inactive because I failed to renew

As I type, I've been on hold waiting to speak to someone for just over an hour.

Anyone else had a problem?  Part of me wants to hang up and ignore the letter but I don't want to lose my license.

[Lee B]

1 hour ago, Patti in Upstate NY said:

 

Today, I received a letter telling me my status is inactive because I failed to renew

 

Probably, because the renewal deadline was January 31st.

You will probably need to file Form 8854 to request reinstatement

[Patti in Upstate NY]

I've been enrolled since 1991.  My license expires 3/31 every cycle.  Historically, I've renewed anywhere from late January through mid March.  I looked back and it was almost always submitted in early March.   

So, this is on me?  Or maybe on them because I wasn't compliant on the dates?

The next 30 days will determine whether I continue doing taxes or not.   I was pretty sure I was done before this letter arrived but I'm weighing my options.  

 

 

[Lee B]

I have been an enrolled agent since 1992. When you renew the effective date of your license is April 1st.

However the  application period for renewing your license ends January 31st, which is why you received the inactive status letter.

Per Circular 230:   https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/pcir230.pdf

[BulldogTom]

I had an issue when the IRS missed my renewal.   3 years later I went in to the website and renew and it asked me for proof of my CE.   I freaked out and called.   When I did, the agent was like "we don't have record of your XXXX renewal".   I was like "can I send you over my application and receipt with the date and time stamp?  I renewed on the first date the application was on line"   The dude was like "you have that available?" and I was like "Of course I do.   I can email it to you right now, give me your email address".   They asked me to mail in my application and my cc payment receipt from three years prior and in a few weeks I got my enrollment card.   

I think it had something to do with being the first day to renew on the website that caused the issue.

Tom
Longview, TX

[ILLMAS]

What did they say when you called them?  

[NNINNN]

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.

 

 

[Lee B]

Unfortunately, with the reduction in in staffing, we will see more errors like this

[Patti in Upstate NY]

My letter is also dated 4/14/25 and I received it on 5/12.  The issue date on my card is 4/21/25.

The first day I called, I was on hold for 2-1/2 hours then disconnected.  

Yesterday, I tried at least five times but only received an automated message "due to staffing issues, we are unable to take your call."

I've been on the road all day today but will be trying yet again shortly.

[b#tax]

Yes and just think what it would be like if congress passes the Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act and all tax return preparers have to go through this office for renewal.....

[NNINNN]

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.

 

 

[Patti in Upstate NY]

No luck today, just the recording but I will continue to try to reach them and get confirmation.  Or die trying.

I don't use ATX, I have Lacerte, but this board is filled with the best people in the tax business.   

That is sincere.  Stick around, you'll learn a LOT and get a few laughs here and there

[ILLMAS]

I also received the same letter today. I wanted to inform you that I spoke with an agent approximately two weeks ago about my account, and I was assured that it had been renewed and that my new card would be arriving soon. In fact, the card arrived last week.

 

 

[Lee B]

3 hours ago, NNINNN said:

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.

 

 

How many times did you call before you got through?

[Lee B]

Patti,

I would call or email your IRS Stakeholder Liaison,   412-404-9151   [email protected] 

[NNINNN]

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 in Upstate NY]

So, it took 2hrs and 53 minutes, but I actually got a live body!  She couldn't tell me why the letter went out but did confirm I'm active until 3/31/2028.  

A valuable lesson learned (thanks Lee that I truly didn't know I was supposed to renew by January 31.  I probably should have failed the exam way back when

It's irrelevant now.  I can't say when I'm getting out, but it will definitely be before 2028 so this will be my last renewal debacle. 

As always, I sincerely appreciate everyone's input.