The National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) provides support, education, products, and research services to United States tax professionals. Members of the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) work at offices that assist over 11 million tax payers with tax preparation and planning. The average NATP member has been in the tax business for over 20 years and holds a tax/financial designation and/or a college degree.[citation needed] NATP has more than 22,000 members nationwide. Members include individual tax preparers, enrolled agents, certified public accountants, accountants, attorneys, and financial planners.
Publications
The NATP publishes:
- TAXPRO Weekly – Each week members receive this e-mail featuring tax alerts and news briefs “hot off the press.”
- TAXPRO Monthly – A newsletter covering current events and exploring critical new developments in federal tax laws while providing explanations of tax laws and procedures, “how to” articles, and summaries of court cases and rulings.
- TAXPRO Journal – A quarterly magazine with articles on issues such as new tax acts, practical tax applications, retirement planning, and solutions to the day-to-day challenges of running a tax practice.
Research
Many of NATP members consider the NATP Research Service essential to the success of their practice. NATP answers more than 25,000 federal tax questions a year, on a variety of issues, including:
- Individuals
- Corporations
- Partnerships
- Small and large businesses
- Estates, gifts, trusts, and more
NATP has a full-time, onsite research staff composed of federal tax specialists including EAs, CPAs and attorneys having access to an extensive tax research library. NATP allows members to discuss the question with a tax research specialist.
Education
NATP offers a variety of options to meet educational goals and earn continuing professional education (CPE). NATP's courses appeal to all learning styles:
- Live workshops
Tax professionals can choose from over 200 live nationwide workshops.
- Facilitated online courses
When participants sign up for one of NATP's facilitated online courses, they can log in and participate when most convenient. Participants may spend about an hour a day, three days a week, participating in the online course for maximum effectiveness and to receive credit or pass an exam. Any computer with access to the Internet may be used to participate (a broadband connection is required). Participants do not need special technical skill or knowledge. Each online course has a facilitator to help guide participants through the learning process and answer questions.
- Self-study courses
Participants who cannot attend one of NATP's workshops and prefer not to take a facilitated online course may use the self-study method. A test is available for EAs and CTEC members to receive CPE credits.
- Conferences
At NATP's National Conference & Expo, participants can choose from a variety of tax and business topics and earn CPE credits. Participants can also attend NATP's Technology and Office Productivity (TOP) Conference to learn how to help a small business run more smoothly and effectively.
- Tax Forums
This two-day event focuses on basic and intermediate level topics and provides attendees with low-cost CPE, taught by quality speakers. Attendees will earn maximum CPE for minimal pricing at one of three locations: Las Vegas, Indianapolis and Atlantic City.
National Conference
The NATP National Conference is four days of education where participants select from a variety of course topics and take advantage of networking opportunities with other tax professionals.
Tax Forums
NATP offers tax professionals to gain maximum CPE for minimal pricing at its annual tax forums, where attendees can expect to receive up-to-date information about the latest tax law changes and earn CPE. Tax preparers who attend our forums get two days of basic and intermediate level tax education from the high-quality speakers you’ve come to expect.
Chapters
NATP’s nationwide chapters provide support, education, and local networking opportunities for its members. chapter activities include:
- Hosting meetings where members can exchange ideas, solve problems, and discuss issues with other tax professionals in their area;
- Volunteering to provide individual support and expertise about state and local tax issues to members through newsletters, meetings, and e-mail communications;
- Offering local education seminars on state and local tax topics;
- Interfacing with the NATP National Office to make current information available on the web, enabling members to get updates on issues in other states.