Get your PTIN
Your ticket to paid prep.
What Dana said
Apply for your PTIN.
Tap the steps in order.
- Go to IRS.gov/taxpros
- Sign in with ID.me
- Enter your personal and business info
- Answer the compliance questions
- Pay the $18.75 fee
- Get your PTIN
How long does each way take?
You can apply online or on paper Form W-12.
Tasha forgot to renew.
Your PTIN is ready!
Basics complete!
- Apply for a PTIN online
- Know the 2026 fee and timing
- Renew every year
- Know the next step: the EFIN
Lesson notes
Want the details? Tap a card to open it.
What you will learn
- Who needs a PTIN and how to get one
- How to renew it every year
- The next steps after the PTIN: EFIN and e-file
Who needs a PTIN
Anyone who prepares or helps prepare all or substantially all of a federal tax return or refund claim for pay must have a valid PTIN and include it on every return they prepare.
How to apply
- Go to the IRS Tax Professional PTIN System at IRS.gov/taxpros and create an account (sign-in uses ID.me for most applicants).
- Provide personal information, business information and your prior-year tax return details.
- Answer the questions about felony convictions and tax compliance.
- Pay the fee. For 2026 the PTIN fee is $18.75, non-refundable.
- You receive the PTIN online right away. A paper application (Form W-12) takes about 6 weeks.
Renewing every year
All PTINs expire on December 31. Renew online each fall for the coming filing season; preparing returns with an expired PTIN can lead to penalties.
After the PTIN
To e-file, the office also needs to be an authorized IRS e-file provider with an EFIN (Form 8633 application through IRS e-Services). Nationwide partners can e-file through the Nationwide service bureau structure; ask your Nationwide contact about the requirements.
Key terms
- PTIN: Preparer Tax Identification Number
- Form W-12: Paper application for a PTIN
- e-Services: IRS online tools for tax professionals, including the e-file application
Practice example (fictional)
Tasha prepared returns last season and never renewed her PTIN. It is now January. Can she prepare returns for pay? Not until she renews her PTIN for the current year.