Form 15200 – IRS Certificate for Paid Preparer Due Diligence 2025

I remember a partner texting me late on a Sunday in February, asking if a missing “Form 15200” would hold up returns on Monday. If you’ve ever chased certificates across inboxes while clients refresh their portals, you know that quiet jolt of panic. Here is the good news. Form 15200 is not a tax return and it does not report income. It is the IRS Certificate of Completion you receive after finishing the Paid Preparer Due Diligence self‑study training. You earn continuing education credit, and the certificate helps you prove your team took the training that supports due diligence for refundable credits and head of household status.

Quick definition, Form 15200 is the IRS certificate you download after completing the Paid Preparer Due Diligence training module, used as evidence of CE and policy compliance, not a filing form.

Key Takeaways

• Form 15200 is a CE certificate, not an income tax form. It confirms completion of IRS Paid Preparer Due Diligence training.
• Due diligence penalties are real, for 2025 the penalty is $635 per failure, and it can apply up to four times on one return when EITC, CTC, AOTC, and HOH are involved.
• The training backs your procedures for Form 8867 and documentation standards tied to refundable credits and HOH status. Keep certificates and records for three years.
• Education credits still matter, AOTC can be partly refundable, up to $1,000 back when it exceeds tax due. Verify MAGI limits before claiming.
• Covid‑era Form 7202 is not current, it applied to 2020 and 2021. Only amended returns for those years may still involve it.

What Form 15200 Is, And Why It Matters To Your Firm

Form 15200 is the official one‑page certificate template the IRS uses to document completion of its Paid Preparer Due Diligence self‑study training. The December 2024 revision shows the sponsor, the IRS Return Integrity and Compliance Services team, the Refundable Credit Administration office, and a named program director. The certificate template also lists the program number and CE hours for the course version you completed. Save it with your compliance records.

Why it matters. If your preparers handle returns claiming EITC, CTC or ODC, AOTC, or HOH filing status, you are subject to preparer due diligence rules under IRC §6695(g). For returns and claims filed in 2025, the penalty is $635 per failure. One return can trigger multiple failures if you missed the requirements for several benefits on the same return. Training alone does not immunize you, but it demonstrates that you invest in knowledge, it supports your internal procedures, and it gives auditors less to question.

What Form 15200 Is Not

Form 15200 is not a substitute for Form 1040, not a combined filing, and not a place to enter wages, 1099 income, or K‑1 amounts. It does not compute a refund. Treat it like proof of CE, similar to other IRS course certificates, and keep it with policies, Form 8867 checklists, interview notes, and client documents that support refundable credits or HOH status.

A Quick Refresher On The Credits That Drive Due Diligence

• AOTC, Form 8863. Up to $2,500 per eligible student, and 40% of the credit can be refundable, up to $1,000. Confirm program enrollment, qualified expenses, and MAGI thresholds before claiming.
• CTC, ACTC, ODC. Rules shift with legislation, and amounts adjust over time. Always check the current year thresholds and Schedule 8812 instructions. We cite 2025 penalty amounts above to underline how fast these details evolve.
• EITC. Verify earned income, qualifying child tests, and tie‑out to Forms W‑2 and other income statements. Follow the Form 8867 interview and record‑keeping rules.
• HOH status. Substantiate residency, support, and qualifying person criteria. Missing this is a common trigger for penalties.

The Covid‑Era Credit People Still Ask About

Many preparers still get questions about the self‑employed sick and family leave credits from 2020 and 2021, reported using Form 7202. That credit window has closed for current‑year filing. The IRS guidance that remains live today addresses 2020 and 2021 scenarios and amended return clean‑up. If you are fixing a 2021 return, follow the archived instructions and attach Form 7202 or a compliant statement as the IRS outlines. For current 2025 work, do not promise this credit.

How To Earn, Download, And Store Form 15200

Step‑By‑Step To Your Certificate

• Enroll in the IRS Paid Preparer Due Diligence self‑study training. The IRS routinely lists its CE modules and updates in the EITC Central pages for tax pros.
• Complete the course and pass the knowledge checks. The current certificate template, Form 15200 Rev. 12‑2024, shows it as a self‑study course with the program number and CE hours.
• Download and save your Form 15200. Store a PDF, capture the completion date, and catalog it by preparer.

A note on CE hours. The certificate template for the 12‑2024 version shows 2 credits for the Paid Preparer Due Diligence training. Some IRS pages and modules reference 1 CE for other due diligence offerings. Your certificate controls. Always retain the PDF that shows the exact hours awarded.

What To Keep With The Certificate

To show due diligence, combine your Form 15200 with four buckets of evidence:

• Form 8867 checklists and interview notes tied to the return.
• Copies of client documents used to determine eligibility and amounts. Keep for 3 years from the due date or filing date, whichever is later.
• Internal SOPs for HOH, EITC, CTC, and AOTC work.
• Quality review sign‑offs showing who prepared, who reviewed, and what was resolved.

When an examiner asks for due diligence support, you want to hand them a clean package, not a scavenger hunt.

The 2025 Penalty Numbers You Should Know

For returns and claims filed in 2025, the IRC §6695(g) penalty is $635 per failure, with no overall cap per preparer. A single return can stack up to four failures if EITC, CTC, AOTC, and HOH are all mishandled, which means $2,540 exposure on that one job. Firms can be penalized when an employee preparer fails due diligence, so leadership must care about the basics.

Pro tip, make your reviewers initial the Form 8867 packet and the documentation list for each applicable return. That simple habit improves accuracy and helps if your firm ever needs to show who checked what.

How AOTC Fits Your Due Diligence Picture

AOTC is one of the big four areas that can trigger penalties. It can be worth up to $2,500 per eligible student, and up to $1,000 can be refundable when the credit exceeds tax. Verify enrollment, degree pursuit, and eligible expenses. Confirm MAGI thresholds and coordinate with scholarships and 1098‑T data. Train your staff to read 1098‑T boxes, and to reconcile payments with bursar statements when numbers do not line up.

Common AOTC Documentation Gaps We See

• Only the 1098‑T is saved, no proof of payment or itemized charges.
• Expenses include room and board rather than qualified tuition and related fees.
• MAGI phaseout is not checked before applying the credit.
• Student already used AOTC for four tax years.

Use a short internal checklist for AOTC and attach it to the workpapers. It saves reviewers time and protects your firm.

Secure Storage, Practical Policies

You do not need fancy software to store Form 15200, but you do need discipline. Use a folder structure in your DMS or practice platform, apply role‑based access, enforce zero local storage, control VPN‑only connections, and keep audit logs. Align with SOC 2 style controls where possible, even if you are not certifying. The exam standard is reasonableness. If your system shows who accessed what, when, and why, you reduce risk.

If your firm uses offshore or hybrid teams, follow the same rules. Store certificates centrally, limit access by role, and include CE completion in onboarding checklists and annual reviews. Operational maturity beats heroics every time.

Where Accountably Fits

When firms struggle to scale tax and CAS work, the issue is usually delivery, not sales. If you want standardized workpapers, predictable reviews, and trackable training artifacts, you can integrate an offshore delivery system that runs inside your tools with SOPs, versioned workpapers, and quality layers. That is the operating model Accountably builds, and it includes documentation discipline that makes Form 15200 and other CE records easy to track alongside returns, reviews, and deadlines. Use this only if your goal is stable production, not a quick staffing patch.

Action Plan, Make Form 15200 Part Of Your Due Diligence Workflow

Week 1, Get Current And Close Gaps

• Have every preparer complete the IRS Paid Preparer Due Diligence self‑study and save Form 15200 to your central DMS.
• Update your Form 8867 SOP with a short intake script and a one‑page document checklist per benefit.
• Add a reviewer sign‑off step that specifically calls out EITC, CTC, AOTC, and HOH confirmations.

Week 2, Tighten Workpapers And Reviews

• Standardize file naming, for example, 2025_Return_ClientName_Benefit_AOTC_Workpaper_v1.pdf.
• Require tie‑outs for 1098‑T, bursar statements, and scholarship allocations.
• Move any Form 7202 requests into an amended‑return workflow for 2020 or 2021 only, with citations in the file to support why it applies.

Week 3, Audit Yourself

• Pick five returns with these benefits and re‑perform the due diligence review.
• Confirm each has Form 8867, interview notes, and documents retained for the three‑year window.
• Log any misses and update your SOP. Small things fixed early avoid big penalties later.

FAQs

Is Form 15200 a tax return I file with the IRS?

No. It is a Certificate of Completion the IRS issues for the Paid Preparer Due Diligence self‑study. You download it after you finish the course and keep it with your compliance records.

How many CE credits does Form 15200 reflect?

Check your certificate. The 12‑2024 template shows 2 credits for the Paid Preparer Due Diligence self‑study with program number CEQXT‑T‑01613‑24‑S. Some IRS pages note 1 CE for other due diligence modules, which is why your actual certificate is the source of truth.

What is the 2025 due diligence penalty amount?

For returns and claims filed in 2025, the penalty is $635 per failure. If you miss due diligence for EITC, CTC, AOTC, and HOH on the same return, exposure can be $2,540.

Which forms and positions trigger due diligence?

EITC, CTC, ACTC, ODC, AOTC, and HOH status. You must complete Form 8867 and meet the knowledge, record‑keeping, and documentation standards.

Does the American Opportunity Tax Credit increase my client’s refund?

It can. Up to 40% of AOTC, capped at $1,000, can be refundable if the credit exceeds tax due. Confirm MAGI limits and student eligibility before claiming.

Is the Form 7202 credit still available for self‑employed people?

Not for current‑year filing. That credit applied to 2020 and 2021 tax years under pandemic relief rules. You might still use it when amending those prior years if facts support it.

How long should my firm keep due diligence documentation?

Keep it for 3 years from the due date of the return or the date filed, whichever is later. That includes the checklist, interview notes, and any documents you relied on.

Simple Comparison, Form 15200 vs. A Tax Return

Item	Form 15200	Form 1040 and related schedules
Purpose	Proves completion of IRS Paid Preparer Due Diligence training	Reports income, deductions, credits, and computes tax
Who completes	The preparer, by finishing the IRS self‑study	The taxpayer or paid preparer for the taxpayer
Filed with IRS	No, it is retained in your records	Yes, filed electronically or by mail
Ties to credits	Supports procedures for EITC, CTC, AOTC, HOH	Actually claims the credits and HOH status
Record retention	Keep with CE and compliance files	Keep with tax workpapers and client files

Final Word

You care about speed, accuracy, and margin. Form 15200 is a small but important piece of that puzzle. Get the training done, save the certificate, tighten Form 8867 habits, and keep clean documentation for three years. If you are building a delivery system that makes this automatic, you are already reducing risk and freeing partners to focus on higher‑value work.

Note on accuracy, this guide reflects IRS pages reviewed through October 31, 2025, including the certificate template and the 2025 penalty amounts. Always recheck the IRS site for late‑season updates before you finalize your SOPs.

Small disclosure, our team used AI‑assisted drafting, then a human reviewer with tax operations experience validated the facts and examples against current IRS sources.