The IRS announced that effective February 12, 2016, they will no longer offer the ERPA Special Enrollment Exam (ERPA SEE). The IRS indicates that the program is being discontinued due to a steady decline in the number of test takers that has resulted in the test becoming too costly to administer. Plan sponsors can use Form 2848 to authorize ERPAs to represent them before the IRS on retirement plan issues, such as audits (whether or not the ERPA prepared the 5500) and VCP filings.
The final ERPA SEE testing window is January 5 through February 12, 2016. Candidates are eligible to take each of the two parts only once during the testing window – meaning that candidates will have only one attempt to pass the tests during this final opportunity. Registration for the final testing window closes on January 4, 2016. A candidate who has passed both parts of the ERPA SEE may still become an ERPA by filing IRS Form 23-EP (Application for Enrollment to Practice before the Internal Revenue Service as an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent) within one year of passing both ERPA exams. If a practitioner thinks he or she may wish to be an ERPA, the practitioner should register now to take the exams because they will not be offered again, and there is no way to become an ERPA without passing the exams.
This change does not impact current ERPAs. The renewal periods and continuing education requirements are unchanged. They will continue to have authority to represent taxpayers on plan issues.
While the IRS’s reasoning may be understandable, the ERPA program provided a path to enable retirement plan professionals (other than attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents) to practice before the IRS with respect to:
· Employee Plans Determination Letter program;
· Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System;
· Employee Plans Master and Prototype and Volume Submitter program;
· IRS forms under the 5500 series (generally); and
· Appeals, Collection, Counsel and other IRS offices with respect to the above listed matters.
After February 12, 2016, employee benefit professionals without the ERPA designation who wish to practice before the IRS on retirement plan matters will have to consider taking the three-part Special Enrollment Examination to become an Enrolled Agent.
=========================================================
Online registration is now open:
Orlando Advanced Pension Conference – February 10-12, 2016
See program highlights, agenda, event details, and register online, here:
http://www.relius.net/Events/seminardetail.aspx?CID=26749
Just for ERPAs Workshop, Orlando FL – February 9, 2016
View event details and register online, here:
http://www.relius.net/Events/seminardetail.aspx?EID=26867
Live Web Seminars
ERISA 02: FAQs re Restatements and IDPs, 11/20, 12:00 PM ET
Advanced Cross-Tested Plans Techniques - A 2-part program, 11/30, 12/7, 12:00 PM ET each day
ERISA 03: Affiliated Service Groups, 12/4, 12:00 PM ET
Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans - A 3-part program, 12/8-9-10, 12:00 PM ET each day
ERISA 04: Current Developments and the IRS LESE Project, 12/11, 12:00 PM ET
Ethics, 12/18, 12:00 PM ET
ERISA 05: Eligibility FAQs, 12/21, 12:00 PM ET
ERISA 06: A Review of the ASPPA IRS Q&A Discussion, 12/28, 12:00 PM ET
For more details about these programs, and to register online: www.relius.net/events/events.aspx?Web
Archived Web Seminars – Have some down time this end of the year? Sharpen your tools, register for these newly recorded events:
Strategies to Increase Participants
Church Plans
Rehired Employees
RMDs
Restatement Determination Letters: The end is in sight
The Dirty Dozen: Correcting Common Compliance Errors
For program details about archived Web seminars, and to register: www.relius.net/events/events.aspx?Archive
Pensions on Peachtree, Atlanta, GA – April 25-26, 2016 – Save the Dates!
The professional educators at SunGard are joining forces with the Ferenczy Benefits Law Center, LLP, based in Atlanta and Knoxville, to bring you their third annual conference. Program details and online registration will be available in January 2016, here. |
