The IRS has issued its final ruling regarding an increased IRS user fee for the Special Enrollment Examination. Starting March 2018, candidates can expect to pay $181.94 per part, a 65% increase over the current rate of $119.94.

The $181.94 fee is the combination of a new IRS user fee of $81 and the exam contractor's (Prometric) fee of $103.97. The IRS has stated that the reason for the increase is due to increased fixed costs associated with exam administration. They do not intend for the user fee to discourage individuals, and hope to increase the amount of EA exam test candidates in the future, lowering this cost.

The Treasury Department and the IRS do not intend the user fee to discourage individuals from becoming enrolled agents and have considered the possible impact of increasing the user fee on the number of individuals taking the EA-SEE. Enrolled agents play a valuable role in the tax administration process, and the IRS uses the EA SEE to ensure their qualifications. The IRS welcomes a continuing dialogue on how it can attract more individuals to take the EA-SEE and thereby lower the cost per part by spreading the fixed costs of administration over a larger population of examinees. - IRS [TD 9820]

Also known as the EA exam, the Special Enrollment Examination is a three-part exam administered by Prometric on behalf of the IRS. Each part is taken as a separate 100 question, multiple-choice exam. The three parts are Individual taxation, Business taxation, and Representation, Practices, & Procedures. As of September 2016, there were a total of 51,755 active Enrolled Agents.

It is important to note that this is the first IRS user fee increase since the inception of third-party EA exam testing in 2006. The previous IRS user exam fee was $11.

The good news is that there is still plenty of time to pass the examinations and earn the EA designation before the increased fees begin. But, if you haven't already, you'll need to start today.

Our EA Review course has helped thousands of tax professionals earn their EA designation (often on their first try). We can help you, too! Start today at www.fastforwardacademy.com









For more information, view the entire announcement here.