Now that the enrollment renewal cycle has finished, the IRS Return Preparer Office will begin annual clean-up of those Enrolled Agents who have Social Security Numbers (SSNs) ending in 7, 8 or 9 or those who have no SSN and did not renew.
Those who did not renew during the 2015 and 2018 cycles will be moved to terminated status. (2,000+) Those who did not renew during the 2018 cycle will be moved to inactive status. (5,000+)
Letters will be sent to those whose status has changed advising them of IRS action.
Any preparer in inactive status can still submit a late renewal for approval with proof of CE. Any preparer in terminated status must re-take the Special Enrollment Exam to apply for re-enrollment.
If an Enrolled Agent (EA) disagrees and has a record of previously renewing his or her EA status, he or she should contact the number on the letter, which is 855-472-5540.
Separately, the IRS Return Preparer Office will be sending Letter 5781 to a random sample of EAs requesting verification of their continuing education credits for the past three years. A copy of the letter is attached.