The Internal Revenue Service has published a Candidate Information Bulletin to help those preparing to take the Registered Tax Return Preparer Test know what to expect on test day.

The tax preparer competency test is one of the requirements that the IRS is in the process of putting in place as part of its ongoing efforts to regulate the tax preparation profession (see IRS Begins Scheduling Tax Preparer Competency Tests). The IRS has already required all tax preparers to apply for and renew their Preparer Tax Identification Numbers before the end of the year in order to prepare returns next tax season. It is also in the process of establishing continuing education programs.

The new Candidate Information Bulletin contains a list of study resources, test content, and information on the question format. The downloadable 12-page guide also includes information on scheduling a test, the testing fee and test center locations, an overview of the test, test center procedures, a content outline, and pre-test study materials.

The bulletin is available here. Additional test materials are available at www.irs.gov/taxpros/tests.