EA Rolling Renewal Schedule Delayed

Washington (Oct. 29, 2003) -- The Internal Revenue Service has delayed implementing the new rolling renewal schedule for enrolled agents.

Under Circular 230, as amended July 26, 2002, approximately one-third of all enrolled agents will renew their enrollment each year. Except for those who received their initial enrollment after November 1, 2003, enrolled agents who have a social security number or tax identification number that ends with the numbers 0, 1, 2 or 3 were scheduled to apply for enrollment between November 1, 2003, and January 31, 2004.

To ensure an orderly transition to rolling renewals, the implementation of the schedule has been delayed until the 2004 calendar year. The IRS will publish the schedule for affected enrolled agents to apply for renewal of enrollment in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and on the Office of Professional Responsibility Web page at www.irs.gov/taxpros/agents/index.html at least 30 calendar days prior to the beginning of the period for renewal of enrollment and no later than June 1, 2004. The renewal period will last at least 60 days, but no more than 90 days.

The delay will not affect an enrolled agent's current status as an enrolled agent in good standing, and will not affect the number of hours of continuing professional education required for renewal or the time period within which these hours must be completed.

-- WebCPA staff