Your EA renewal, punched.
Enrolled agents renew every 3 years, on a cycle set by the last digit of the Social Security number. Put in your January 31 deadline, punch in your 72 CE hours, and put the date on your calendar. Free, no sign-up, and it all stays on this phone.
Your enrollment
The next date, years on. The board renews on this cycle but hasn't posted this date yet; check the IRS EA page.
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Your courses
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Keep it safe
Everything here lives in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else. Keep your CE certificates for 4 years after you renew. Back it up before you switch phones or clear your browser.
How to renew
- Know your deadline. The last digit of your SSN or tax ID sets it: 7, 8, 9 or no SSN renew by January 31, 2027; 0 to 3 by January 31, 2028; 4 to 6 by January 31, 2029. Then every third year.
- Finish 72 CE hours over the 3 calendar years: at least 16 a year with 2 of ethics, 6 ethics in all, from an IRS-approved CE provider. Courses from before the month you became an EA don't count.
- First renewal? Form 8554: "you have to complete 2 hours of CPE for each month you were enrolled, including 2 hours of Ethics each year."
- Keep your PTIN active. Renew it every year between mid-October and December 31 at IRS.gov/ptin ($18.75).
- File Form 8554 between November 1 and January 31 (this cycle the IRS opened it October 1). Online at Pay.gov Form 8554, or on the paper form. Enter your tax law and ethics hours for each year.
- Pay the $140 renewal fee. It's non-refundable.
- Keep your CE records for 4 years after the renewal date (31 CFR 10.6(h)).
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Enrollment renewal, Form 8554 (every 3 years) | $140 |
| PTIN renewal (every year) | $18.75 |
Renewal: Form 8554 and 26 CFR 300.6. PTIN: IRS PTIN page.
If you miss January 31
- Without a timely renewal, or short on hours, you go on the roster of inactive enrolled agents and can't practice before the IRS or use the EA designation (31 CFR 10.6(j)).
- You get back to active by filing the renewal with proof of all the hours for the cycle. Those hours can't also count toward the cycle you return in.
- Not fixed within 3 years of going inactive, your enrollment terminates (31 CFR 10.6(j)(6)).
Where every number comes from
- Current renewal cycle by SSN digit, Form 8554 on Pay.gov, PTIN window, 72 hours, 16 a year, ethics: IRS: maintain your enrolled agent status
- Last-digit groups, November 1 to January 31 every third year, enrollment years, CE per cycle and per year, first renewal, records, inactive status: 31 CFR 10.6 (Circular 230)
- $140 fee, active PTIN, first-renewal hours: Form 8554 (Rev. 11-2022)
- $140 renewal of enrollment fee: 26 CFR 300.6
- $18.75 renewal fee: IRS: PTIN requirements
- 72 hours a cycle, 16 a year, 2 ethics: IRS: enrolled agent FAQ
Checked November 11, 2026.
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