Chartered Tax Professional- Gatlin Online: George Mason Continuing Education

As you complete the six 10-lesson modules that comprise the CTP® program over the span of two tax seasons, you will accumulate the required 500 hours of experience as a tax professional to qualify for the prestigious Chartered Tax Professional designation. There is a shortage of qualified tax preparers and, therefore, a great demand for seasonal tax preparers. As long as you meet a tax firm’s employment criteria, with the tax knowledge you will gain from the initial modules, you should be able to easily get a job with a local tax preparation firm. Alternatively, you could become self-employed as a tax professional. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion, in addition to a very impressive CTP® certificate when you meet the final experience requirements. As a CTP® you will have the tax knowledge and experience to prepare for the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) exam if you wish to add the coveted EA credential to your professional designation as a CTP®.

To help you become employed or self-employed as a tax professional, we provide a Tax Pro Career Center on The Income Tax School web site where you can find information about careers in tax preparation and other valuable resources. The Tax Career Center includes links to various tax industry sites that provide valuable resources for beginning tax preparers and experienced tax professionals. You will also find a number of free articles on tax practice management. In addition, the Tax Career Center includes online classified ad directories where you can post an ad for free to let tax business owners know of your availability to work as a tax preparer. You can also read help wanted ads posted by tax businesses seeking to hire tax professionals. The job directories are promoted to thousands of tax businesses nationwide through broadcast e-mails to our database and news releases to the media and tax industry contacts. You will also find links to the web sites of major national tax professional associations which also have state chapters, such as the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP). You can also post your ad on the NATP web site classified ad section for free under “Tax Related Positions Wanted” through our Tax Career Center.

If you are a CPA, CFP, attorney, or if you hold some other professional license, you may be able to satisfy some or all of your continuing education requirements through your coursework in the CTP® program. Income tax knowledge is also valuable to many professionals because financial decisions usually involve tax consequences for their clients. Providing tax preparation services is also a great way to diversify and recruit new financial services clients.

The CTP® certificate program is unique in that you will have the opportunity to earn money as a professional while you study, and to internalize the knowledge by applying what you learn.

The best thing about being a tax professional may be that you have the opportunity to help people to deal with the intimidating and stressful chore of preparing their taxes. Your clients will trust you with their personal and financial information and you have an obligation to maintain complete trust and confidentiality. Being a successful tax professional is less about numbers and more about people skills. It is very rewarding to help people who place their complete confidence in you and come back year after year because they trust you and respect your knowledge.

Tax preparation can be combined with various other professions and services, such as small business accounting, insurance, paralegal, real estate and financial services, to provide year-round employment or self-employment. Income tax crosses many professional disciplines.

An added bonus is that you will save money on your own taxes and tax preparation fees. The average U.S. taxpayer pays about one-third of his or her income in income taxes. Knowing how to minimize your personal tax bill can save you the cost of the CTP® program many times.

FEATURES

In this nationally recognized innovative online Chartered Tax Professional Certificate Program, students can start working and earning money while completing coursework. This online certificate program is only offered in partnership with Gatlin Education Services.

The Steps to Becoming a CTP®

1. Successfully complete The Income Tax School series of six 30-hour Income Tax modules (four additional modules beyond the 60-hour Comprehensive Tax Module). An average grade of at least 80% must be attained (our adult students average 90%+).

2. Meet the experience requirement of working at least two tax seasons (a minimum of 500 hours) as a tax preparer while in the program (prior tax preparation experience will count for experienced tax professionals who test out of the Basic and/or Intermediate modules). After completing the first tax module you’ll have enough tax knowledge to start working towards your experience requirement. Plus, you’ll start earning money!

Your CTP® Designation Can Be Earned in Months

All modules are offered online via the Internet and can be completed anywhere, anytime, 24/7. The affordable tuition includes instructor support plus a hard copy of each tax course student text with all necessary tax forms at no additional cost. Each course consists of ten three-hour lessons and can be completed in five to ten weeks (one or two lessons per week). The entire program could be completed in less than eight months, but many students will take 18-24 months, during which time they will also gain experience and earn money as tax professionals.

You will be awarded a CTP® Certificate

Upon completion, you will be awarded a certificate and the designation of Chartered Tax Professional — CTP®. Acceptable experience completed prior to enrolling in the CTP® program by tax preparers who have tested out of the first two modules will satisfy the experience requirement. Peoples Income Tax School trading as The Income Tax School is certified to operate as a private career school by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

After completing this comprehensive certificate program, you will be well prepared to handle almost any individual and small business income tax situation you encounter. You will also be ready to take the next step in your career as a tax professional by preparing for and taking the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) exam. The EA designation is the most significant credential in the income tax preparation industry; even more relevant than the CPA designation.

TOPIC HIGHLIGHTS

Individual Income Tax Preparation

Basic Income Tax Course
1. Electronic Filing
2. W-2 & 1099 Forms
3. Form 1040 (1040 EZ/A)
4. Interview Techniques
5. Filing Requirements
6. Filing Status
7. Exemptions & Dependents
8. Earned Income Tax Credit
9. Due Diligence
10. Child Care & Tax Credits
11. Interest & Dividends
12. Other Income
13. Adjustments to Income
14. Moving Expenses
15. Itemized Deductions
Intermediate Income Tax Course

Employee Business Expenses
Sale of Real Estate
Depreciation: MACRS & ACRS
Self-Employment
Filing Requirements
Rental Property
Capital Gains & Losses
Education Expenses & Plans
Education Tax Benefits
IRAs & Retirements Plans
Ethics
Kiddie Tax
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1977
Tax Saving Ideas
Alternative Minimum Tax
Office-in-Home
Injured & Innocent Spouse
Penalties
Extensions
Amended Returns

Advanced Income Tax Course – Level I

Earned Income Credit
Clergy
Investments
At Risk Rules
Passive Activities
Injured/Innocent Spouse
Tax/Special Credits
COGS/Business Start-Up
Depreciation
Amortization
Section 179
Employee Business Expense
Office in Home
Auto Expenses
Self-Employment Tax
Statutory Employees
Capital Gains/Losses
Basis of Property
Sale of Stock
Installment Sales
Rental Properties
K-1s/1099s
Sale of Business Property
Estimated Taxes
Extensions

Advanced Income Tax Course – Level II

Amended Tax Returns for Individuals
Special Needs and Concerns of Seniors
Tax Issues for High Income Taxpayers
Net Operating Losses
Schedule D - Special Issues
Tax Issues for Divorced Taxpayers
Tax Planning Tips and Strategies
Responding to the IRS
Part-year Resident State Tax Preparation Principles
Nonresident Alien Returns - Form 1040NR

Small Business Income Tax Preparation

Introduction to Small Business Tax Preparation

Business Types
Accounting Methods
Financial Statements
Business Income
Schedule C
COGS/Inventory
Depreciation
Section 179 Deduction
Contractor vs. Employee
Sale of Business Property
Partnerships
Corporations - C, S, LLC
Employee Taxes
Excise Taxes
Estate Taxes
Extensions
Estimates
Employee Benefits
Retirement Plans

Small Business Income Tax Course – Level II

Understanding the Balance Sheet
Partnership Issues
Corporation Issues
General Business Credits
Tax Issues Related to Buying a Business
Sale or Liquidation of Business
Profit or Loss From Farming - Schedule F
Amended or Corrected Business Returns
What to Do When You Owe the IRS?
Tax Preparation for Non-profits: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), etc.

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

Sample George Mason University Certificate of Completion

A 70% or better must be achieved in order to receive a Certificate of Completion.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Practice as a Qualified Tax Professional

Prepare Tax Returns for All Individual US Taxpayers

Prepare Small Businesses Corporate, Partnership & Sole-Proprietor Tax Returns

Conduct a Professional Tax Preparation Client Interview

Provide Tax Planning for Individuals and Small Business Owners

Meet the IRS e-File and Due Diligence Requirements for Tax Practitioners

Understand the Ethical Responsibilities of Tax Professionals

Save Money on Your Personal Taxes and Preparation Fees

Prepare for the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) Examination

PDF BROCHURE

Please click here to download the PDF brochure for the Gatlin online courses offered by OCPE.

This brochure and the registration form for this course require Adobe Reader. Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

A high school diploma or equivalent is a prerequisite; accounting and math skills are not required, just the aptitude to work with numbers and people and to read and interpret tax laws.

This program is suitable for all adults who seek a fast track to a professional white-collar career. Tax preparation is especially appealing to those who would enjoy helping other people by making the intimidating task of tax preparation a pleasant experience, while saving their clients money by minimizing their tax liabilities.

Homemakers with young children find tax preparation a convenient profession as they are able to be off when their children are out of school for the summer, yet maintain their professional skills.

Early retirees find tax preparation a rewarding second career enabling them use their minds while helping people and still have time to travel, play golf and spend time with their grandchildren.

College students find tax preparation an opportunity to gain professional work experience and credentials to strengthen their resumes.

Moonlighting professionals find tax preparation a source of extra income during winter months.

Blue collar workers can enter new white-collar professions through tax preparation.

Many employed and self-employed individuals such as financial services and real-estate professionals find tax preparation a complementary profession to earn extra money and also generate leads for their other professional activities, while also enabling them to better serve their clients through knowledge of the tax consequences of their clients’ decisions.

INSTRUCTORS

Instructor support is provided via e-mail by experienced practicing tax professionals employed by Peoples Income Tax, Inc., of which The Income Tax School, founded in 1990, is a division. Peoples operates multiple tax offices in central-Virginia and licenses income tax school systems and tax practice management manuals to independent tax firms nationwide. The school is certified by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV) and all instructors meet SCHEV requirements. The school’s founder & CEO, Charles E. McCabe, a 40-year veteran tax industry executive, has managed hundreds of tax preparation offices. Mr. McCabe has a BS from Adelphi University an Executive MBA an AB,D from Pace University. He is a national speaker, teacher, and author on income tax and tax practice management. Mr. McCabe is the Founding Chairman of the National Alliance of Tax Business Owners (www.natbo.net). He serves on the Virginia Career College Advisory Board of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Dean’s Advisory Council for the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond.

PC REQUIREMENTS

Requires a standard personal computer with Internet access, a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox, at least 256K RAM, and Acrobat Reader (free download).

FAQ

1. How do I register for a Gatlin online course?

Please contact our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA) or call 703-993-2113. Click here for more information or to download a copy of the registration form.

2. How much do Gatlin online courses cost?

To view the prices for all Gatlin courses that are offered by George Mason University, please click here.

3. Why do I have to take Gatlin courses through a participating school?

Gatlin does not offer courses directly to the public. They partner with major colleges and universities to offer their programs.

4. Do I have to travel to register for or to attend a Gatlin online course?

All Gatlin courses are delivered entirely online, you do not have to go to a class or travel to a school. If you are unable to visit our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA), please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

5. How long does it take to complete a Gatlin course?

All of our Gatlin courses are asynchronous. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. Most courses are designed to be completed within 180 days. You may request an extension if you think you will need more time to complete a course (fees may apply). Please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here if you have any questions or if you would like to register for a course.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?

Please refer to the green Included Materials box located on the upper right hand side of this page. If materials are included in this course, they will be shipped by Gatlin to you via UPS ground service after you have registered for a course.

7. Can I get financial aid for Gatlin courses?

Gatlin courses are non-credit and therefore are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. However there are a number of loan programs that can be used to fund your course. Click here to view a list of these options or call 703-993-2113 for more information. Gatlin also provides a loan opportunity for students (www.collegeloanapplication.com).

8. What happens when I complete the course?

If you obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater in a course, we will award you a George Mason University certificate of completion.

9. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (by e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. Facilitators are all successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

10. What are the system requirements in order to take an online course?

Please see the "PC requirements" section listed for individual courses.

11. When can I start the course?

Registrations are rolling. Please send us your registration form at the time you wish to start your course. Registrations take five to seven business days to process.

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