Self Study: Ethics for Tax Return Preparers

General Description:

This course covers the duties and responsibilities of tax practitioners and Tax Return Preparers (TRPs) subject to Treasury Circular 230 and tax due diligence standards for tax return positions.

Please note: If you are using this course toward the requirements for the IRS Annual Filing Season Program - Record of Completion for 2025 tax returns prepared in 2026, you must pass the test no later than 12/31/2025.

Learning Objective:

After completion of this course the participant will be able to:

• Identify incompetent/disreputable conduct and possible sanctions for tax practitioners and TRPs that are subject to Treasury Circular 230.
• Identify the duties and restrictions of tax practitioners and TRPs under Treasury Circular 230.
• Calculate the TRP penalty under IRC §6694 and the accuracy related penalty under IRC §6662.
• Identify appropriate forms of legal tax sources and authority standards in Treas. Reg. §1.6662-4 for supporting tax return positions including substantial authority, reasonable basis, and what constitutes willful or reckless conduct.

Instructors:

Richard L. Russell, Jr. is an associate professor of accounting at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver), teaching Tax I & II in the undergraduate program and Tax Research, Tax Practice & Procedure, and Partnership Taxation in the graduate Master of Professional Accountancy program. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and Master of Professional Accountancy from Jackson State University and J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law. He is licensed as a CPA in Mississippi and Colorado and licensed as an attorney in Colorado. He has served as a member of the AICPA’s Regulation Subcommittee, which votes on CPA exam questions related to tax and business law, and is licensed to practice before the United States Tax Court.

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