1. Home
  2. Taxes General Forum
  3. National Tax Training School

National Tax Training School

I would like to get a better grip on matters regarding the U.S. personal income taxes. I don't have the time to go to a traditional brick-and-mortar school, so I am considering distance education.

I found the National Tax Training School in Mahwah, NJ,

formatting link
which offers acertificate in Federal Individual Income Tax through a home studycourse
formatting link
Does anyone kow if this National Tax Training School is a reputable business?

Does anyone know of other reputable schools that offer homy study courses for somebody like me who wants to master the basics of U.S. personal income taxation and individual tax planning in general? (Not interested in corporate taxation!)

I am not looking to become an IRS Enrolled Agent; I am more interested in acquiring the knowledge of what the IRS calls a Registered Tax Return Preparer.

Reply to
tb
Loading thread data ...

I just returned from the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum last week in Chicago and the exhibiters included quite a few folks offerring classes intended to teach tax basics so you can pass the RTRP exam.

I would try googling that forum for tax courses, exhibiters, and RTRP on line training.

I have no direct knowledge or experience with any of them, so I cannot recommend or rate any of them, Try seeing if the Better Business Bureau has anything on them.

Having said that, I personally believe a small class setting where you can ask a knowledgable instructor questions, is of more benefit than an on-line course.

And schools are out there. IRS estimates there are 240,000 folks who will need to get their RTRP license and to date only 10,000 have done so. That's a pretty big market for RTRP classes.

And they also report the number of EA applicants have grown over 50% over the past year. I'm guessing a lot of experienced but unlicensed tax preparers decided that since they have to take some test anyway, why not take the EA exam?

Reply to
Arthur Kamlet

According to a recent Facebook post by David Williams, Director of the IRS Return Preparer Office, there are

330,000 people who have to take the RTRP test. An IRS Newswire in June said 340,000 preparers have to take the test, and that "over 4,800 people" had become RTRPs.

Message from David Williams to RTRP candidates, August 14,

2012
formatting link
IRS Newswire IR-2012-59, June 5, 2012
formatting link
Bob Sandler
Reply to
Bob Sandler

"tb" wrote

I don't know about home study or whatnot, but years ago the H&R Block course was a very good basic intro course. I never took it, but a fellow CPA sends his staff there for initial training. It ain't cheap, but it is good. Don't know if they still run those, but it's worth a look.

Reply to
paulthomascpa

The description of the course on the H&R Block web site says the following in a footnote.

"This course is not intended for, nor open to any persons who are either currently employed by or seeking employment with any professional tax preparation company or organization other than H&R Block. During the course, should H&R Block learn of any student's employment or intended employment with a competing professional tax preparation company or service, H&R Block reserves the right to immediately cancel the student's enrollment. In the event of such cancellation, the student will not be entitled to a refund of any fees paid."

Bob Sandler

Reply to
Bob Sandler

"Bob Sandler" wrote

I think they just don't want to be training Hewitt's workers.

In fact the lady who owned the local H&R was touting their classes to me, for myself or my staff. This was a while ago, but still. We don't really compete against eachother. At least I'm not looking to get H&R customers. But they might have changed since I last ran into her.

Reply to
paulthomascpa

BeanSmart website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.