About PTINdirectory

Mission of PTIN.ORG

The mission of the National Directory of Registered Tax Return Preparers & Professionals (PTIN.ORG) is to provide IRS-registered tax professionals including CPAs and Enrolled Agents with the resources and technology they need to succeed in a rapidly-changing and regulated environment.

Vision for our membership is to:

PTINdirectory.com is the first comprehensive national online directory of federally registered tax preparers. It is independently owned by the National Directory of Registered Tax Return Preparers & Professionals and has no affiliation with the Internal Revenue Service or any government agency. The directory can be used by agencies, individuals and business owners to find a tax preparer that has been issued an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Please note, for privacy concerns, actual PTIN numbers issued to each tax preparer are NOT accessible on this website.

The PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) was created several years ago by the IRS as a number that tax return preparers could obtain from the IRS to use on tax returns instead of their Social Security numbers. However, beginning January 1, 2011, all paid tax preparers must use a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on returns they prepare. Use of the PTIN is no longer optional.

The PTIN requirement is one of the main provisions in a new oversight program to help regulate the tax preparation industry. Anyone paid to prepare all or substantially all of any federal tax return or claim for refund must have a PTIN. The requirement applies to all tax return preparers, including those who are enrolled agents, CPAs and attorneys.