The AFTR Course for Arizona Tax Preparers: What the 2027 Season Requires
- The AFTR (Annual Federal Tax Refresher) is a 6-hour IRS course that ends in a timed comprehension test.
- Non-exempt Arizona preparers take it as part of 18 total CE hours for the 2027 AFSP Record of Completion.
- The 2027-season AFTR is open only June 1 – December 31, 2026.
- Arizona has no preparer license, but ADOR can suspend a preparer’s ability to e-file with the state for violating its e-file program rules. The AFTR itself is identical nationwide.
§1 What the AFTR Is
The Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) is a 6-hour course whose content is set by the IRS. It covers new tax law for the filing season, a general review of federal individual tax topics, and practice and procedure. To earn the Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) Record of Completion, you pass the AFTR test, complete the rest of your CE, and give the Circular 230 consent.
Arizona doesn’t issue a license or permit to paid tax preparers. For a non-credentialed preparer in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, or anywhere else in the state, the Record of Completion is the most accessible credential a client can look up independently. It puts you in the IRS’s public Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers. It also gives you limited representation rights for returns you prepared and signed.
§2 Do You Need It? Exempt vs. Non-Exempt
Only non-exempt AFSP participants take the AFTR, as part of 18 hours. Exempt participants complete 15 hours and skip it. You’re exempt if you passed the former RTRP test or passed SEE Part 1 within the past three years. Qualifying VITA/TCE volunteer or instructor service also counts, as does active registration with the Oregon, California (CTEC), or Maryland state preparer programs.
Arizona has no program on that list, because it has no preparer registration at all. Unless a federal route applies, you’re non-exempt and the AFTR is part of your requirement. Try our 2-minute exemption check, or read the full exempt vs. non-exempt guide.
§3 Course Format, Window, and Test
The AFTR is offered only by IRS-approved CE providers, and only during a fixed window before the filing season. It ends with a timed comprehension test you must pass for credit. Your provider then reports the completion to the IRS under your PTIN.
AFTR COURSE AT A GLANCE
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Course length | 6 hours |
| Available window | Jun 1 – Dec 31, 2026 |
| Test format | Timed, open-book |
| Required for | Non-exempt preparers |
Aim to finish by October or November. That leaves room for a retake or a slow provider report before December 31. Our inside-the-AFTR-test guide covers what the exam looks like.
§4 How the AFTR Fits the 18 Hours
The AFTR is 6 of your 18 hours. The other 12 are 10 hours of federal tax law topics and 2 hours of ethics. Hours in one category can’t be used for another.
NON-EXEMPT AFSP REQUIREMENT — 18 HOURS
| Course Category | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| AFTR course + comprehension test | 6 |
| Federal Tax Law Topics | 10 |
| Ethics | 2 |
| Total | 18 |
For the complete program, including the exempt track, see AFSP requirements for Arizona preparers.
§5 The Arizona Context: No License, E-File Oversight
The AFTR’s content, length, test, and deadline are federal. None of them change in Arizona. What sets Arizona apart is that its Department of Revenue (ADOR) polices preparers through the e-file system rather than through licensing. ADOR requires a valid PTIN on returns a paid preparer files, and it can suspend a preparer’s ability to electronically file Arizona returns if the preparer fails to meet the state’s e-file program requirements. Arizona has no exam, no state CE mandate, and no registration fee for preparers.
Arizona also levies its own individual income tax (Form 140), so most individual clients file a state return alongside the federal one, and a wrong federal number usually means a wrong Arizona number too. With no state credential to fall back on, the AFSP Record of Completion is the clearest signal a non-credentialed Arizona preparer can offer a new client.
§6 Deadline and Record of Completion
December 31, 2026. To earn the 2027 Record of Completion, you must finish the AFTR, your other 12 CE hours, and your Circular 230 consent by this date. The consent is given in your online PTIN account. Your PTIN must also be renewed for 2027, and in Arizona that same PTIN keeps you in good standing with ADOR’s e-file program.
Check your CE record in your PTIN account after each course is reported, and renew your PTIN early instead of in the final week. Our PTIN renewal walkthrough covers the full year-end sequence.
§7 FAQs
Does Arizona require tax preparers to be licensed?
No. Arizona has no preparer license, permit, or exam. Paid preparers need a valid IRS PTIN, and ADOR can suspend a preparer’s e-file privileges for violating its electronic filing program requirements.
Is the AFTR different for Arizona preparers?
No. The AFTR is federal, with the same content and test in every state.
Does Arizona have a CE requirement for tax preparers?
No. Arizona sets no state CE hours for preparers. The AFSP hours are voluntary and federal.
Can an Arizona preparer be AFSP-exempt?
Yes, but only through a federal route (recent SEE Part 1, the former RTRP test, or qualifying VITA/TCE service) or through active registration in the Oregon, California, or Maryland programs.
Ready to get started? Enroll in Tax IQ Academy’s 2026 AFTR course, or browse the full AFSP & AFTR resource hub.
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.