How Do You Receive Your AFSP Record of Completion? Email, Mailbox or Letter
Last reviewed: October 25, 2026 · By TAX IQ Academy
- The IRS generates your Record of Completion only after all requirements are met, including PTIN renewal and Circular 230 consent.
- With an online PTIN account, the IRS emails you from taxpros@ptin.irs.gov; the certificate then arrives in your online secure mailbox.
- Without an online PTIN account, the IRS sends a letter with instructions.
How do you receive your AFSP Record of Completion?
The IRS generates your Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) Record of Completion once every requirement is met, then delivers it electronically if you have an online PTIN account, or by letter if you do not. You do not apply separately for the certificate itself. Source: IRS, “General requirements for the annual filing season program record of completion.”
| Your situation | How the IRS contacts you |
|---|---|
| You have an online PTIN account | Email from taxpros@ptin.irs.gov with instructions to sign the Circular 230 consent; the certificate is placed in your online secure mailbox |
| You have no online PTIN account | A letter with instructions to complete the application and obtain your certificate |
What must be finished before the IRS issues the Record?
You must complete the required continuing education from IRS-approved providers (18 hours for non-exempt preparers, 15 hours for exempt preparers), renew your PTIN for the upcoming year, and consent to the Circular 230 obligations. Once all three are done, the IRS says the Record of Completion will be generated to you.
What is the IRS secure mailbox?
The secure mailbox is the message area inside your online PTIN account. The IRS says it only sends messages; it does not accept or process replies, so do not answer the email or mailbox message with questions. Contact your CE provider about missing hours instead.
What if the email never arrives?
First check that your provider has reported your hours to your PTIN account and that your PTIN is renewed, since the Record is not generated until everything is complete. Also check your spam folder for the taxpros@ptin.irs.gov address. TAX IQ Academy cannot see your IRS account; confirm directly with your provider or the IRS if hours look wrong.
The AFSP is a federal IRS program and is identical in every state.
Next step
Read the Record of Completion explained, why your PTIN must be renewed first, the 2027 season AFSP requirements guide, or the state hub. To finish your hours, enroll in the 2026 Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR). More in the AFSP & AFTR hub. Source: IRS general requirements for the AFSP Record of Completion.
Tax IQ Academy is an IRS and CTEC approved provider of continuing education for tax professionals, offering AFSP, AFTR, and EA exam prep courses covering federal tax law, ethics, and practice management.