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CCH® PENSION — 04/25/11

Enrolled Agent Fees Lowered From $125 To $30 In Final Regulations

from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: The Internal Revenue Service has finalized regulations in the April 19 Federal Register that reduce fees to $30 for the initial application and renewal by enrolled agents and enrolled retirement plan agents in order to practice before the IRS. Regulations proposed last year were adopted without substantive modification.

The final regulations are effective April 19.

Individuals granted status as enrolled agents or enrolled retirement plan agents must renew enrollment every three years. The renewal schedule is based on the last digit of the individual’s Social Security number or tax identification number. The user fees for both initial enrollment and renewal are found at 26 CFR Part 300.5 through 10.

In addition, the fee for taking the enrolled retirement plan agent special enrollment examination was established as $11 per part, which is the cost to the government for overseeing the exam. There may be additional fees charged by the administrator of the exam.

The IRS notes in the preamble to the final regulations that this fee was lowered because portions of the enrolled agent and enrolled retirement plan agent renewal processes have been reallocated to the preparer tax identification number (PTIN) application and renewal process. The fee for a PTIN is $64.25 for both initial application and renewal.

For information about the final regulations, contact Emily M. Lesniak at (202) 622-4570. For information about the cost methodology, contact Eva J. Williams at (202) 435-5514.

For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH Pension Plan Guide, CCH Employee Benefits Management, and Spencer's Benefits Reports.

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