Here's some good news for anyone who provides tax services in New York state.
New York lawmakers have passed a bill that exempts all CPAs from an earlier law that required tax preparers who prepare New York tax returns to register with the state.
The original requirement, which was part of Gov. David Paterson's budget and was slated to take effect on Dec. 31, 2009, called for all tax preparers who provide tax services in New York to pay a $100 registration fee to the state. The law provided an exemption for New York CPAs, but out-of-state CPAs would have still been required to register.
The new legislation eliminates that requirement, clarifying that “all CPAs and attorneys and the people they supervise will not have to register with the New York State Department of Tax and Finance for the new Tax Preparer Registration Program.” That's a direct quote from Aaron Castelo, the AICPA's senior manager of state regulation and legislation. Read the New York State Society of CPAs' summary.
The bill awaits Paterson's signature. Pending that, it's apparently business as usual for tax pros in New York.
- UPDATE: Gov. Paterson signed the bill into law on Dec. 10, 2009.
The California Society of CPAs dug up a copy of the new bill online. Check it out here. The provision in question is found in Section F of the bill.