Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum Online?
- Is IRS Nationwide Tax Forum Online (NTFO) the same as the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums? How can I get more information about the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums?
- Who is responsible for the Nationwide Tax Forum Online?
- Can I receive continuing education credit for viewing a seminar?
- How do I receive continuing education credit
- How do I purchase a seminar for continuing education credit?
- What can I do on my status page?
- What is the cost for a continuing education credit?
- What if I lose my password?
- What is the cost to view a seminar if I do not want continuing education credit?
- How do I view a course without receiving credit (audit)?
- How long is a seminar?
- What seminars are available?
- Who do I contact if I have questions or need more information?
- I get an error message when trying to access video content
What is the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum Online?
The Nationwide Tax Forum Online (NTFO), is a program of self-study seminars based on selected seminars recorded during the in-person 2024 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum. These seminars provide the latest updates on tax law, cybersecurity, ethics, and other topics. NTFO courses may be taken for CPE credit for $29 per credit. Participants may also audit the courses for free, however no CE credit will be given.
Is IRS Nationwide Tax Forum Online (NTFO) the same as the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums? How can I get more information about the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums?
No, NTFO is a different program than the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum. NTFO offers online tax courses for credit, and you must register and create an account on the NTFO website. The IRS Nationwide Tax Forum is an in-person event held in different locations each summer providing the latest information on federal and state tax issues through a variety of training seminars and workshops. For more information on the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum, visit www.irstaxforum.com
Who is responsible for the Nationwide Tax Forum Online?
NTFO is the sole property of the Internal Revenue Service, and it is managed through the Office of National Public Liaison.
Can I receive continuing education credit for viewing a seminar?
Continuing education credit is available for certain seminars. Please check the seminar's individual home pages to determine if credit is offered. The IRS accepts certain seminars for one (1) continuing education credit for Enrolled Agents (EA) and Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) participants. IRS Communications and Liaison is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.
How do I receive continuing education credit?
To receive credit, you must first create an account on NTFO by creating a username and password. You will be asked to provide your first and last name, Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), and email address. If you do not have a PTIN or do not want to provide it, please check the box in order to complete this step in the registration process. Your name and PTIN will only be used to provide a record of your continuing education credit to the IRS Return Preparer Office. Note: If you do not provide a PTIN, then your continuing education credits will not be uploaded to the IRS PTIN system. Please ensure your PTIN is nine (9) characters in length: it should begin with "P" followed by eight (8) digits. If your name and PTIN do not match the information in the IRS PTIN system, then the IRS Return Preparer Office will not accept your continuing education credit. Ensuring your name and PTIN are accurate will prevent delays in uploading your continuing education credits.
Please check your email after creating your account. This check is done to verify your email address. Until you have completed your email address verification, you will not have access to the review questions or the final examination, and therefore will not be able to receive continuing education credit.
You will use your username and password to log in to your account on NTFO. When you log in to the site, you will be directed to your status page. From the status page, you can take any seminar you have purchased, resume any purchased seminars that are in progress, download the PDF files of the Certificates of Completion earned for passed seminars, and review completed seminars.
Once you purchase a seminar, it will appear under the “In Progress” tab on your status page. Start the seminar by clicking on “Chapter one.” Once you complete a chapter, navigation will appear at the top of the screen and take you to the first review question, followed by the next chapter, etc. A review question follows each chapter. After you have completed the video and review questions, you must take and pass a final examination. The seminar may be viewed repeatedly; however, the final examination can only be attempted two times. You must achieve a passing rate of 70% on the final examination to receive continuing education credit. You have one calendar year from the date of purchase to complete the course.
How do I purchase a seminar for continuing education credit?
To purchase a seminar, first create an account on NTFO. After logging in, you can purchase seminars either one at a time, or add seminars to a shopping cart and make a single purchase transaction for multiple courses. After completing the purchase through PayPal, you will be returned to your status page on www.irstaxforumonline.com.
When you click the button to buy a seminar or to checkout the shopping cart, you will be taken to PayPal. Users will be asked to log in with an existing PayPal account, or to create a new PayPal account. The PayPal account is separate from the irstaxforumonline.com account. The payment transaction occurs through PayPal, and once it is complete you will be redirected to your status page on www.irstaxforumonline.com.
What can I do on my status page?
- Take a new seminar
- Resume previously started seminars
- Review previously completed seminars
- Review/download Certificates of Completion
What is the cost for a continuing education credit?
Each continuing education credit costs $29.00. There is no additional charge if the seminar is repeated. You will not receive additional credit for taking the same seminar. The seminars are purchased through PayPal.
What if I lose my password?
If you lose or forget your password, you can request a new password. Just click on "Forgot password?" on the login form.
What is the cost to view a seminar if I do not want continuing education credit?
There is no cost to audit or view a seminar without receiving continuing education credit.
How do I view a course without receiving credit (audit)?
All seminars are able to be viewed without cost and for no continuing education credit. You will have access to the video, PowerPoint and transcript. You will not have access to the Review Questions or the Final Examination and will not receive continuing education credit.
How long is a seminar?
Each seminar is approximately 50 minutes long, but is broken into chapters for easier viewing. Each seminar is available online whenever you need it and includes a speaker presentation as well as any audience questions and answers from the seminar.
What seminars are available?
2024 Seminars
- 2024 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum KEYNOTE ADDRESS
- Bark and Bite: How the IRS Watchdog Protects You from Fraud and Scams
- Choosing Retirement Plan in SECURE 2.0 World
- Circular 230 and the Lifecycle of a Practitioner Practicing Before the IRS
- Circular 230: Professional Responsibility in Today’s Tax Practice
- Digital Assets: What Tax Pros Should Know
- E-Services and you
- IRS Transformation and the Future Vision of the Agency
- Let’s Chat about What You Need to Know about Transcripts and How We Might Improve Them
- Mastering IRS Authorizations with Forms 2848 and 8821
- New Online Features for Tax Pros: Do Business Faster and Easier with IRS Online
- Partnerships and Non-resident Alien Withholding
- Residential Energy and Clean Vehicle Credits
- Retirement Plans and IRAs: Distribution and Repayment Options Under SECURE 2.0
- Steering Clear of Mistakes - A Review of Refundable Credit Eligibility Rules
- Tax Law Changes for TY2024
- Taxation of U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens (Green Card Holders) Living Abroad
- What Taxpayers Need to Know about Disaster Tax Relief
To see a list of seminars from previous years, as well as seminars offered for audit-only purposes, visit the seminars page.
Who do I contact if I have questions or need more information?
Please use the "Contact Us" form on this website to submit your comments or questions. Please note that we will not respond to tax-related issues or personal inquiries. For more information, please check Tax Topics, Frequently Asked Questions, or Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA). You may also call the IRS toll-free tax assistance line at 1-800-829-1040 for individuals or 1-800-829-4933 for businesses.
I get an error message when trying to access video content
In order to view the videos, you must have an internet connection that does not block video content. If your network blocks video content, please contact your network administrator.