Finding Opportunity amidst Economic Adversity

Stephen Fuller, the Dwight Schar faculty chair and public policy professor at George Mason University, believes “there’s always opportunity in adversity.”  In an article published on Entrepreneur.com, Fuller explains that with an economic recession comes more creativity, as professionals look for innovative ways to overcome difficulty, and with more creativity comes a surge of entrepreneurialism.

Last week we discussed how you might know if your job is in jeopardy.  With the recession, many are leveraging layoffs as the perfect opportunity to start their own businesses.  Even those with full-time work see the economic downturn as a good prospect for launching their own financial practices.  What will you do?  When life gives you a recession, we suggest you make lemonade.

Making Lemonade: Becoming a Full-Service Financial Provider

Regardless of how difficult things may become, there are always two services businesses will need: accounting and tax preparation.  The law requires it.  Becoming a one-stop financial shop for local small businesses will enable you to have a competitive edge; prospective clients will appreciate the convenience and specialized services your business offers.

Small-Business Accounting

Over 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for corporate accounting processes, leaving a huge gap in the small business arena. And with the economic recession, more and more small-business owners are looking for proactive accountants who can make their businesses more profitable, enabling them to thrive their way through financial difficulty.  Those who recognize this need and receive the proper training can take advantage of this fantastic opportunity by becoming small-business accountants.

At Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. UAC has designed a curriculum specific to small businesses needs and offers the most complete small-business accounting course anywhere.   It’s called the Professional Bookkeeper program and will educate you in the day-to-day accounting tasks required for small business.  From establishing a business’s books from scratch to managing payroll, you will receive hands-on training that will give you the confidence and expertise necessary to take on the most diverse clients.  Not to mention, we dedicate one entire course module to the process of starting and marketing your new accounting practice.

Tax Preparation

Tax season is a busy time that can ensure the tax preparer a lucrative start to the year.  Unfortunately, the recession is causing many taxpayers to be more selective when choosing a tax preparer who can save them money now without costing them an audit later.   Many find themselves more inclined to work with individuals who have earned valuable certification.  Becoming a Professional Tax Preparer can put these prospective clients at ease.

UAC’s newly updated Professional Tax Preparer course will provide you with all the information you need to tackle the current Tax Code, enabling you to prepare most individual and business returns with ease.   And if you ever have a question, UAC’s follow-up support system will be there to respond with professional, reliable advice.

Many see the recession as an opportunity to finally start the business of their dreams.  Are you one of them?  Take this opportunity to enroll in these complementary programs: the Professional Bookkeeper and the Professional Tax Preparer programs. Your future will thank you.

Resources

Wang, Jennifer.  “Recession = More Creativity = Higher Rates of Entrepreneurship.” 3 February 2009.  Entrepreneur.com

If It’s Accounting, It’s Universal:

Get to Know More About the Company That Will Change Your Career!

Universal Accounting is a company that is making a difference in the lives of their students! For those who are pursuing or looking into the possibilities of pursuing a career path into the Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation services, you need to get to know more about what all Universal offers in their comprehensive training programs.

If you prefer onsite classroom study or looking for the benefits received on independent study, we have developed the programs that you will be able to get the one-on-one experience in your own home. The skills we have used over the course of the last 28 years, with the trial and error, the fine-tuning of accounting methods and strategies, and what we and thousands more have experienced running their own practices - we have provided to you the advantage to stay on top of your profession. Our coursework is designed to be exactly what you will be doing when you are servicing the biggest customer base available, the small business owner.

If you are looking for the knowledge, the skills, and the know-how to start or build your accounting or tax practice, or just looking to gain the essential skills to further your career in your place of business, Universal’s Programs are what you are going to need.

Click here to take the Video Tour of Universal and all that we offer to you, the accounting and tax professional to be the best in your field and to have the success in business and in your professional life that you are seeking.Our exclusive short term courses do just that!

Imagine staying on top of the latest in the industry and having access to the experts who can assist you through training? Imagine what you are learning can be applied the very next day at work? Imagine being able to keep the materials, and the reading for continued referencing as you take that path in Accounting, Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation? You don’t have to imagine too hard, because that is one of the many things you receive when you enroll in these specialized programs! Click here to get to know Universal Accounting.

Are You Ready For The Next Step?
Be in business for yourself, but not by yourself getting paid what you’re worth! Are you tired of thinking, “Why not me?” You have gotten this far in your search to do what you want to in your chosen career, take the next step. The time is now to be able to get the training and the change you desire in your professional life. Click here to find out if Professional Tax Preparation Certification is a fit for you.

Be the Profit Expert Professional for Small Business! Don’t hesitate another day in getting the Accounting and Marketing Training that makes the difference. Click here to get more information on what you need to know about getting the Accounting and Marketing Training that makes the difference. Click here to get more information on what you need to know about becoming the Profit Center Expert for small business accounting and tax!

Santa’s Early This Year:

You’re Just One Package Away from a Thriving, Year-Round Business

Imagine this: you’ve recently found the perfect spot for your business. You walk to the location and, using a nifty bicycle pump, begin to inflate the site. Miraculously you find yourself in the middle of the office of your dreams, perfectly organized with your shingle on the door. Not only that, but it’s fully equipped with little marketing elves who scatter to promote you in the best manner possible. Your mind is suddenly filled with knowledge on how to move forward, intuitively understanding how to work with each and every client you will encounter. You have the tools that will make your work more efficient and less time-consuming. And you also have the confidence that your services will keep you busy year-round, providing you with the financial ease you’ve only dreamed of. Like that? Okay, now wake up.

Every business owner has wished, at one time or another, they could purchase the perfect business package that would inflate on demand. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to start your own business: it takes a bit more knowledge and forethought. While Universal Accounting Center may not have that particular package (the one with the bicycle), they do have the next best thing: a three-package deal that will come close to getting you everything you need to get started. Just add the office and your supplies and viola! You’re ready to go!

The Professional Bookkeeper Program
Over 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for corporate accounting which doesn’t address small business needs. More than 50% of small businesses fail, and much of that failure can be attributed to poor financial management. Imagine contributing to the success of small business, which will build your own community while providing you with job satisfaction and security.

At Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. The Professional Bookkeeper Program was designed specifically to address the needs of small businesses, and Universal Accounting offers the most complete small business accounting course anywhere. Not only that, but UAC teaching you effective marketing techniques; you’ll leave the program with small business knowledge and skills and the ability to promote those things to potential clients! You’ll have the ability to earn the Professional Bookkeeper Designation which assures clients that you have been properly trained in small business accounting and will help you know what those clients need most from you. (Do you see your business beginning to take air?)

The Professional Tax Preparer Certification
We trust you could start a successful accounting practice without adding tax services, but the truth is you can charge 100+ per hour preparing individual and business taxes. That’s an incredible income boost during tax season and throughout the year for those clients who need any tax consulting or tax planning services. Why not increase your income by becoming a full-financial service provider? You will quickly become a one-stop shop for those clients who need you do more than just their bookkeeping.

The Professional Tax Preparer Program offers hands-on experience in tax preparation. Countless individuals are scammed each year by people who claim to know what they’re doing. And more and more are becoming leery of tax preparers without any credentials. This program enable you to earn the Professional Tax Preparer Designation which will put many of those individuals at ease, assuring them that you have been properly trained in tax preparation. (Can you see your business enlarging?)

The Professional Bookkeepers Guide to Quickbooks
Nearly 80% of small businesses use Intuit’s Quickbooks software. While other programs may be useful, Quickbooks has definitely captured the small business market. Learning Quickbooks will not only help you keep more efficient records, but it enables you to teach your clients how to use the software so that you can get the information you need, making your job much easier. Add to that your ability to introduce Quickbooks services to your menu, and you’ve got a well-rounded business with loads of earning potential.

UAC’s Professional Bookkeepers Guide to Quickbooks Pro will teach you teach you how to do the basic transactions, how to reconcile accounts, what the program does with its data, and a basic understanding of fundamental accounting principles. We have also included about 18 hours of bookkeeping instruction and a complete detailed presentation of QuickBooks fundamentals. You may well call it a lifesaver. (And your business is fully inflated!)

Universal Accounting Center ’s Special
To celebrate the close of 2006, and to provide you with a timely opportunity to make an incredible New Year’s Resolution, UAC is offering a year-end special that includes all three of the above programs for reduced price. Not only that, but you’ll also get two free gifts with the offer: a customized website and 2 practice books! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! Don’t wait another day to build the business of your dreams. Get started and enroll today.

Requiring the Licensing of Paid Tax Preparers: How Could Congress’s Upcoming Decision Affect You?

Currently paid tax preparers are not required to be licensed. Uncle Jo who was good at math in school can prepare all his nieces and nephews taxes without recourse. Along with Uncle Jo there are fraudulent “tax preparers” who promise higher returns by committing tax fraud; they then skip town and leave their clients to deal with IRS audits. Also in the mix are hard-working, legitimate tax preparers who supplement their income or run a small business preparing tax returns. All these individuals may soon be required to get a license as evidence of their ability to prepare taxes. How might upcoming legislation affect you?

Licensing fees.
A licensing fee could run several hundred dollars. Some worry this significant cost could put legitimate tax preparers out of business. This could also make it difficult for low-income people to afford the services of licensed tax preparers. But before you loose too much sleep, consider that the NATP (National Association of Tax Professionals) is on your side. In September of 2005, the NATP submitted a document to Congress entitled “Recommendations for Legislation to Register Paid Income Tax Preparers” where they suggest that, “the already existing Preparer Tax Identification Number system, also called PTIN, is one possible way to contain costs associated with a registration/licensing process. The structure is already in place, and it would be an economical way for the IRS to implement a registration/licensing process.” Hopefully, this suggestion would limit excessive licensing fees.

Testing and continuing education.
Currently tax preparers are not required to pass any exam or receive continuing education. If Congress passes legislation requiring the licensing of all paid tax preparers, those individuals would be subject to required testing and education. The question now is, how often should tax preparers be tested and provide proof of their continuing education?

NATP suggests requiring a competency evaluation that can assess a tax preparer’s proficiency, although they don’t specify how often tax preparers should be tested. The NATP also cautions against requiring tax preparers to be knowledgeable in all aspects of tax law, especially considering that over 90% of returns filed are for individuals. Strict educational requirements would increase costs to tax payers and discourage individuals from going to tax professionals to file their taxes.

Standard credentials.
Once licensed, you would receive credentials as proof of your ability to prepare taxes legally. While it may require some work for you to receive these credentials, it will put many clients at ease and attract more clients interested in finding a tax preparer with documented expertise and training.

Universal Accounting Center Will Keep You Informed
Through our Universal Tax Tips Newsletter, we hope to keep you informed of all current tax news. And as always we will work hard to help you receive the education and certification required to help you succeed as a tax preparer.

UAC’s Professional Tax Preparer Designation

Universal Accounting is the only organization authorized to award Professional Tax Preparer certification. This is an exclusive designation which shows that you are proficient in personal and small-business Tax Preparation.

When you begin your new business, you need to create confidence in your potential clients. The PTP certification gives your clients the confidence that you have mastered hands-on Tax Preparation with emphasis on small business tax returns.

To learn more, order our video “Introduction to the Professional Tax Preparer Certification.” For less than ten dollars you could be on your way to a more lucrative business. Order now!

Thousands of people just like you are creating strong and profitable professional tax preparation businesses all over the country. Like you, they see the value of advancing their education to help them create the income and lifestyle that they and their families deserve.

For over 25 years Universal Accounting has been teaching professionals like you the ins-and-outs of small business tax and accounting. We’re not called the “Small Business Experts” for nothing. Whether it’s the bike shop around the corner or the dry cleaner down the street, small businesses need what you have to offer; Universal Accounting Center will help you each and every step of the way.

The First Step - A Tax Practice

When you start a tax practice, you are well on your way to personal and professional success. Every business and individual must prepare and file taxes. It’s the law. And as you become the “tax expert” for your clients, you will find more and more opportunities to impact the profitability and health of their businesses. But why stop there? With just once more step you can enhance your services and your bottom line: offer accounting and bookkeeping services.

The Second Step - Adding Accounting Services to Your Menu

Nothing will complement your tax practice more than Professional Bookkeeping services. By increasing the number of products you offer, you’ll not only be able to provide your clients with a complete financial service package, but you will be able to create a better income for you and your family as well.

You can see that the income from a tax preparation business will peak during the first four months of the year. Many professional tax preparers bill at rates of $100 per hour or more enabling them to work 4 to 6 months per year and semi-retire the rest of the year. By adding bookkeeping and accounting services to your menu, you’ll create a stable income stream for your business that will be consistent year-round.

At Universal Accounting, we’ve discovered over the years that the average small business bookkeeping clients will generate an income of approximately $300 per month. By billing your tax clients on a monthly basis and offering bookkeeping services along with year-end tax preparation services, you can feel confident billing $100 per month for additional tax preparation services, creating a gross billing of $400 per month to clients who receive complete financial services.

Your bills and expenses continue all year long, shouldn’t your income?

This graphic demonstrates how adding bookkeeping services will positively impact your practice.

Working with a client’s books throughout the year enables you to not only offer insightful tax planning advice, but will make tax preparation even easier at tax time. In fact, it wasn’t too many years ago that most small business bookkeepers did all the tax preparation and filing.

Adding Bookkeeping Services Just Makes Sense

Most of the college and university programs out there don’t prepare their graduates for a career in small business accounting and tax preparation. Unfortunately, neither do the franchise opportunities. Believe it or not, franchises like H&R Block and Jackson Hewett charge up to $80,000 just to get started.

Unlike a typical franchise, with an education from Universal Accounting you can begin your tax and accounting practice by operating out of your home. In fact, that’s what we’d recommend. You don’t need to run an accounting or tax service out of an expensive office space. The only people who will find you in an office will be the people trying to sell you something.

When you look at starting any business, the right training and support is critical. The Professional Bookkeeper Program offers the following:

• Practical and thorough training in small business accounting
• Exposure to proven marketing strategies specific to your field
• Follow-up support six months following your completion of the course

Act now and when tax season is over you’ll continue to enjoy the profits of a thriving business. Enroll in the Professional Bookkeeper today; it’ll be the best thing you ever did for your tax practice.

Increase Your Services and Your Bottom Line

Here’s a quick quiz for you.

1. Would you like to grow your business?
2. Would you like to work smarter and beat the competition?
3. Would you like to make more money?
4. Would you like to make a difference?
5. And would you like to do it all in less time?

If you answered “yes” to one or more of the above questions, than you would probably be interested in becoming a certified Professional Bookkeeper.

If you’re not quite sure yet, here’s another quiz.

1. Would you like the training to be convenient?
2. Would you like to learn at your own pace?
3. Would you like to avoid complicated math and confusing lingo?
4. Would you like to work with the small business, which provides over 85% of accounting opportunities?
5. And would you like to do it all without spending 4 years at a university?

Again, if you answered “yes” to those questions, than don’t wait another day to change your career and your life!

Small Businesses Are Looking for a Few Good Accountants

Over 85% of the opportunities in the accounting field are within small businesses. Universities prepare their students for corporate accounting which doesn’t address small business needs. More than 50% of small businesses fail, and much of that failure can be attributed to lack of accounting expertise. Imagine contributing to the success of small business, which will build your own community while providing you with job satisfaction and security. Why can’t that be you and how would you go about it?

UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program Has the Answer

At Universal Accounting, we understand the needs of the small business like nobody else. We’ve helped people like you advance their career in small business accounting for over 25 years. With a curriculum designed specifically to address the needs of small businesses, Universal Accounting offers the most complete small business accounting course anywhere. And depending on your schedule and situation, it could only take you 60 hours to complete. That’s about 4 weeks. Just think of it, you working for your financial stability and the lifestyle you have set for yourself in as little as 4 weeks!

Endless Opportunities

The Professional Bookkeeper Program will enable you to advance in your current job. Even non-accounting positions can be enhanced with accounting knowledge; this designation alone could impress your boss and earn a promotion. Or maybe you’d like to expand your tax practice by adding accounting services to your menu. This one program can open doors you might not have known existed.

In an informal poll taken by the success coaches here at Universal Accounting, we contacted 100 graduates of our Professional Bookkeeper Program 12 months after their graduation. 74% are now working in the accounting field, have been promoted to a management position or own their own accounting business.

Success Stories

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what our students have to say about the program.

When I started this class I knew nothing about accounting. Wow, what a difference 4 weeks can make! My advice, Just Do It. You never know what you can do until you do it. I know you’ve heard it before, but in 10 years do you want to be where you are now? I don’t. That’s why I’m here doing this. -- Dennis Keener

I have the videos and will watch them over and over. This support sets Universal Accounting Center apart from the other institutions. The material presented by Universal Accounting Center is what I have searched for all my life. I know from years of educational experience that no finer information exists and no one puts this material together better than Universal Accounting!
–Benjamin York

I have been very impressed by how much we have learned in such a short time. I had no experience in any accounting but I was still able to complete this course. I would recommend this class to anyone that is interested in accounting.--Marianne Johansen

Hundreds have found success in the Professional Bookkeeper Program. Won’t you join them?

Universal’s Distance Learning PB Program

An explanation of Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper Program is available on VHS or DVD to provide you with the flexibility and convenience necessary in today’s hectic world. While some students breeze through the program in a matter of weeks, others take their time in order to work the training around their busy lives.

Maybe you have been thinking about this for a while, to getting your PB Certification, take advantage of the opportunity right now. Learn how if you order today! Consider how much a university education might cost. Here is a quick breakdown of typical expenses.

There is no comparison on cost - $33,000 verses the low cost of the Professional Bookkeeper Program! The PB Program wins hands-down. And because our course will take about 4 weeks, rather than 4 years, you can also cut out the cost of lost career opportunities, since you can get working right away. Even a conservative estimate of $2,000/month of wage x 47 months (4 years minus the month that our training takes) comes to $94,000 in lost wages. Add that to the $33,000 in costs associated with a college accounting program and we come to a grand total of $127,000 - the REAL COST of university training!

Enroll today and the Professional Bookkeeper Program will help you take advantage of 85% of accounting opportunities. Begin increasing your offerings and your bottom line today.

Are You Where You Want to Be?

Another tax season has come and again you are not where you want to be. For awhile you’ve been thinking you could really “clean up” if you just had the right training and marketing know-how to get your tax preparation business off the ground. You know you have the aptitude; you’ve been doing your friends and family’s taxes for years. Every time you get a chance you read up on the latest tax code changes. Perhaps you even subscribe to IRS Alerts from the latest edition on MSN Money. Doing taxes professionally would be easy for you.

So how can you make this happen? How can you get yourself into the position where you can make your current yearly salary in the first 4 months of the year? How can you become a Professional Tax Preparer?

Perhaps you’ve looked into signing up with the biggest tax prep chains. A couple even looked good, that is, if you like signing your life away for the next two years. And you know that something wouldn’t sit right knowing you’re making them hundreds of dollars with you only seeing $8.50 an hour. The training they provide seems ok, but when you look into it more deeply, you realize their training isn’t complete and would not enable you to work independently later. There has to be something better!

Maybe you’ve even considered opening your own tax preparation franchise. However, the cost of buying into the franchise, with the initial fees, monthly payments and royalties required, makes it difficult to become profitable. It isn’t worth the expense for the mere HOPE that you could recoup the tens of thousands you would have to shell out for name recognition alone. And all that while paying some steep monthly overhead for office space and furniture. There has to be a better way, right?

Complete and Affordable Tax Certification

Universal Accounting has thought the same thing. Since 1979 Universal Accounting Center has been showing businesses how to become more profitable. In his book, In the Black, Allen Bostrom, President and CEO of Universal, details the formula one would use to see their business succeed. And it’s upon those sound and solid principles that Universal has built the Professional Tax Preparation Certification.

There is a better way to do business, and it’s having a business of your own! Universal Accounting has helped over 30,000 other accounting, bookkeeping and tax professionals get the training they need to be successful with their own practices. You could be the next. Don’t let another year pass without you being in the driver’s seat of your career! You can get the hands-on training and marketing know-how while keeping costs low as you work from your home office. Universal knows a better way to making your career change profitable and successful.

Are you ready to take that next step? You have gotten this far in your search to do what you want in your chosen career, take the next step. The time is now to be able to get the training and the change you desire in your professional life. Enroll today!

Serving You with Our Free Newsletters

We enjoy sending you information that we hope improves your work as a tax preparer. Our three newsletters, AB Tips, Tax Tips, and Tax Tips, and Career Tips, are intended to help professionals like you advance in whatever their current position in the financial field. The AB Tips Newsletter is designed to share accounting and bookkeeping tips with subscribers. Intended for individuals with their own accounting practice or for those who would like to start their own practice, we specifically include tips on how to market your services, how to streamline tasks, how to organize your office space, etc. Our Tax Tips Newsletter is for tax preparers or those interested in tax preparation. We provide tax news, information on starting your own business, tips on building your clientele, etc. And finally, we have our Tax Tips Newsletter is for tax preparers or those interested in tax preparation. We provide tax news, information on starting your own business, tips on building your clientele, etc. And finally, we have our Career Tips newsletter, for those who work or would like to work in the accounting field. In this newsletter we include information on getting the right job, advancing in your field, moving into management positions, etc.

As we learn more about your needs, we alter our approach in order to better serve you. We’re adding a few things to the newsletter that we hope you enjoy. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and how we hope it helps you.

Two articles

Since we began running our free ezines over two years ago, we have included two articles every issue that offer accounting and tax information, tips on running and marketing a small business, career guidelines and promotional pieces. The newsletters provide us with the opportunity to share our products and services with those we believe they best serve. Universal’s programs are top of the line and life-changing; we promote them because we know they help people like you achieve career goals and realize your business dreams.

We also use the newsletter as an opportunity to expose you to our many free resources, including personalized information from our President and CEO, Allen Bostrom in Allen’s Blog, UAC’s accounting and tax forums, the newsletters, and the Universal video tour.

Recently we’ve responded to requests for purely informational pieces as well. Last summer we asked newsletter subscribers to tell us what you wanted to read about. For the past six months we’ve tried to include articles on all suggested topics. Each newsletter contains one, if not two, informational pieces. We continue to welcome your feedback as we write articles intended to help you improve your financial services. Please visit our forums for a chance to give us feedback on past articles and suggestions for future articles.

Press Releases and New Products

We want you to be in the know about everything Universal, so we include all press releases, enrollment offers, and information about new products in our newsletters. From our new interactive testing center to our customized Professional Bookkeeper Program for Canadian residents, we want you to be the first to know what’s happening at Universal Accounting Center.

Quotable Quote

Everyone could use a little inspiration now and then, so we like to include a quotable quote in each issue of our newsletters. Funny quotes, somber quotes, quotes that make you want to get up and accomplish something, we try to include a variety that inspire and uplift.

“The Bottom Line”

And last but certainly not least is an upcoming addition to our newsletters: a video clip we call “The Bottom Line.” In the serious world of financial statements, taxes, and projected profits, the bottom line is that we like what we do and can enjoy a good laugh about our profession. The humorous clip is intended to help lighten your load and improve your day. We hope you look forward to this new feature and share it frequently with coworkers, family, and friends.

We want our newsletter to help you move forward in your goals as a financial professional. So stay tuned as we continue to improve our newsletters so that they can better serve your needs. We appreciate your support.

Turn 12 Minutes into $100 Per Hour

Investing 12 Minutes Makes $100 Per Hour Possible for You

That’s right . . . you can enjoy a great income and lifestyle. That’s a pretty outrageous statement, but I’ve seen it happen for hundreds of people just like you.

After Reading This You Will Know How to Become a Professional Tax Preparer

Since 1979, Universal Accounting Center has been teaching the ins-and-outs of small business accounting and tax preparation. That’s over 25 years of people just like you and me learning how to help individuals and businesses with their income tax planning and preparation. (And making a really good living as well.)

Most professional tax preparers are charging $100 per hour or more to file an individual’s tax return and even more for business returns. Spending a few minutes reading will answer many of your quesitons regarding how to start a professional tax preparation service. You might be thinking, “I do my own taxes, why would I pay someone else $100 an hour to do it for me?”

That’s a great question and the answer might surprise you. If you file your own taxes and enjoying doing so, you are in the minority. 81% of people surveyed* said that the tax code was too complicated and 70% said that they HATED to do their own taxes. In 2004 that amounted to 43.9 million people who had a professional prepare their taxes.

And it doesn’t stop there. That 43.9 million people represents an increase of almost double since the year 2000, and continues to grow each year. What a tremendous opportunity for someone interested in learning the nuts-and-bolts of tax preparation.

Can Watching This Really Show Me How?

It really can. Spend a few minutes and see for yourself what a great opportunity starting a professional tax preparation business can be.

Become a Professional Tax Preparer Today
*Tax Foundation Annual Survey of Attitudes on Tax and Wealth

The IRS has released a new enrolled agent exam being used for the current testing session which began on October 5^th. The exam, required for all enrolled agents, has been significantly revised and will be offered at 290 secured testing sites throughout North America .

The IRS worked with Thomson Prometric, a company specializing in assessment, to revise the exam. The test was changed from four sections to three to more adequately represent taxpayers (1. Individuals, 2. Businesses, and 3. Representation, Practice and Procedures). Each part of the exam has 100 questions and takes about 3.5 hours to complete; enrolled agents are no longer required to take the exam in one sitting.

Many changes were made in order to make the exam more convenient. Those wanting to become enrolled agents will enjoy the availability of online application and payment, year-round registration, year-round testing, the ability to retake parts of the exam if necessary, and, beginning May 2007, immediate test results.

New fees will also apply. The IRS will charge an $11 user fee to take the exam and a separate $125 fee to enroll or renew enrollment with the IRS. Thomson Prometric also charges its own $86 user fee for each part of the exam. These new fees go into effect the enrollment cycle following November 6^th.

Enrolled agents are tax professionals who apply for enrollment and meet IRS standards of competency, determined by the enrolled agent exam. All enrolled agents are issued an enrollment card. Visit http://www.prometric.com/IRS/default.htm to learn more.

More IRS News: Recent IRS Appointments

The IRS has recently announced a number of new appointments within their organization. They include the following:

• William P. O’Shea as Associate Chief Counsel, Passthroughs and Special Industries.
• Ronald J. Schultz as Senior Technical Advisor to the Commissioner of the IRS’s Tax Exempt and Government Entities division.
• Clarissa C. Potter as the Deputy Chief Counsel (Technical).
• Michael Julianelle as the Director of Government Entities.
• Joseph H. Grant as the Director of Employment Plans.

To become a Professional Tax Preparer, Universal has what you need. If you have been putting off that purchase of Universal’s Professional Tax Preparation Program, today is the time to take that next step. Now is the right time to be able to get yourself into the course that will change your career. Whether it’s enhancing what your current position, or allowing you the skills to break out on your own the Professional Tax Preparation program will give you the knowledge, and the insights on how to take advantage of Universal’s expert training.

Find Out More On What It Takes To Be A Professional Tax Preparer.