Email from IRS, looks sorta real...

[AZ-Tax]

Its from irs@service.govdelivery.com and looks rather real. The email begins:

Dear Tax Professional,

According to our records, you’re required to pass the new Registered Tax Return Preparer Test. With the 2011 tax season behind you, now is the perfect time to test – while the law is still fresh

I received my EA certificate back in April.

Any EA's, RTRP or CPA's also receiving this email?

[MLINDER42]

Irs E-mail

IRS is supposed to be notifying every one who has to take the test.If you have your EA number you can go on the PTIN web site and change your profile or you can call them to update it.

[OtisMozzetti]

The email begins:
Dear Tax Professional,
According to our records, you’re required to pass the new Registered Tax Return Preparer Test.
Any EA's, RTRP or CPA's also receiving this email?

As an EA who already paid Prometric and the IRS even more money than $116 only a few years ago, I do wonder whether there is any good reason for me to go pass the RTRP test?

[taxea]

I ignored it.

[KathMorgan]

RTRP Test

AZ - go to the PTIN site on the IRS page and make sure they have your EA information. If you got your EA after your PTIN was issued you need to update the site so that they make the connection between your EA # and your PTIN. This will also change your PTIN from provisional status to active status.

Otis, you don't have to take the RTRP test as long as your EA status is currect. Make sure your file at the IRS PTIN site is updated with your EA information and showing active instead of provisional and you are good.

[beck]

I ignored it as spam. Why? Because it was sent to an email address I have that is not registered with the IRS.

[Burke]

I got it too. Suspicious. Google it and you will find info as far back as 2009 where Fox News did a spiel on it. Private firm in MN supposedly contracted by many government agencies to deliver public service type of announcements. So it's not FROM the IRS but might have been sanctioned by them.

[taxmom34]

instead of .com i would have looked for .gov at end of email address. most likely spam

[Gary2]

The "From" field in e-mail is easily spoofed. But just to check it out, I started by going to http://www.dnsstuff.com/ and entering "govdelivery.com" into the WhoIs box. This referred me to Network Solutions, at http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp . Repeating the WhoIs search there revealed the owner as GovDelivery Inc., in St.. Paul, MN. Doesn't sound like anything official to me.

If they're using the IRS logo in ways that made it seem like the e-mail came from the IRS, then check the IRS web site for info on proper use of their logo or for reporting phishing scams. Follow their instructions for reporting abuses. Even if it's not malicious, it could still be in violation of IRS rules.

[AZ-Tax]

PTIN active from provisional, not on PTIN website

AZ - go to the PTIN site on the IRS page and make sure they have your EA information. If you got your EA after your PTIN was issued you need to update the site so that they make the connection between your EA # and your PTIN. This will also change your PTIN from provisional status to active status.

I logged into my PTIN acct and searched and searched and could not locate any place to notify them I have obtained my EA license. I called the toll free # on my 2012 PTIN renewal letter from the IRS that rang in Waterloo, IA. He told me that I CANNOT update my PTIN from provisional to active on the website and he will take care of it. Then he verified who I was, got my EA cert # and whole process took about 10 mins but was on hold for about 15 mins.