Tax Return Preparer Competency Act of 2015

To ensure that tax return preparers demonstrate minimum standards of competency. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Tax Return Preparer Competency Act of 2015 2. Minimum competency standards for tax return preparers (a) In general Subsection (a) of section 330 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) regulate— (A) the practice of representatives of persons before the Department of the Treasury; and (B) tax return preparers (as defined in section 7701(a)(36) ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by inserting or tax return preparer representative (B) by inserting or in preparing their tax returns, claims for refund, or documents in connection with tax returns or claims for refund cases (b) Failure To meet minimum competency standards Subsection (b) of section 330 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking before the Department (2) by inserting or tax return preparer representative (3) in paragraph (4), by striking misleads or threatens misleads or threatens— (A) any person being represented or any prospective person being represented; or (B) any person or prospective person whose return (as defined in section 6696(e)(1) . (c) Minimum competency standards for tax return preparers (1) In general Section 330 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Tax return preparers (1) In general Any tax return preparer (as defined in section 7701(a)(36) (A) obtaining an identifying number for securing proper identification of such preparer as described in section 6109(a)(4) (B) satisfying the examination requirements described in paragraph (2); (C) satisfying the annual continuing education requirements described in paragraph (3); and (D) completing a background check as described in paragraph (4). (2) Examination (A) In general A tax return preparer shall provide the Secretary with proof of successful completion of an examination that evaluates the knowledge and competency of the tax return preparer, as prescribed by the Secretary through regulations, forms or instructions, regarding— (i) preparation of a return (as defined in section 6696(e)(1) (ii) ethical standards for preparation of such returns; and (iii) other topics as the Secretary may prescribe. (B) Exceptions The Secretary shall exempt tax return preparers from the examination requirements under this paragraph pursuant to such requirements as are determined appropriate by the Secretary, which shall include any comparable examinations administered by the Secretary or any comparable State licensing or registration programs. (3) Continuing education A tax return preparer shall complete continuing education on an annual basis, which shall consist of not less than 15 hours of instruction, which shall include not less than 2 hours of training relating to ethics and not less than 3 hours relating to Federal tax law updates. (4) Background check (A) In general A tax return preparer shall demonstrate the requirements of subsection (a)(2) by providing the Secretary with a report, as prescribed by the Secretary through regulations, forms or instructions. (B) Exceptions The Secretary shall exempt tax return preparers who have been subject to comparable background checks administered by the Secretary or any comparable State licensing or registration programs. . (d) Contingency fees The Secretary of the Treasury may not regulate, prohibit, or restrict the use of a contingent fee in connection with tax returns, claims for refund, or documents in connection with tax returns or claims for refund prepared on behalf of a taxpayer. (e) Public database for tax return preparers Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, shall ensure that the name and identification number (as described in section 6109(a)(4)

Summary: Tax Return Preparer Competency Act of 2015 This bill grants the Department of the Treasury authority to regulate the practice of tax return preparers and to sanction preparers for incompetency or misconduct. The bill also imposes minimum competency standards for tax return prepares and requires Treasury to make publicly available a database&nbsp;identifying qualified tax return preparers.