<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 09.38.01.02" title_num="09" subtitle_num="38" chapter_num="01" heading="The Examination.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The passing score for the Examination is 70 percent.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>After December 31, 2015, an individual shall pass the Examination given by the Board in order to qualify for a registration unless the individual meets the requirements of §D of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>An individual who has passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer Examination given by the Internal Revenue Service from November 1, 2011, through January 18, 2013, shall be considered to have passed an examination equivalent to that given by the Board.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Waiver of Examination. The Board shall grant a waiver of the examination requirement to any individual who:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Submits an application on the form the Board provides;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Pays the registration fee set by the Board;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Has obtained 15 consecutive years of individual tax preparation experience;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Has completed 8 hours of annual continuing education; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Is in good standing with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Internal Revenue Service;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Maryland Department of Labor;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The Office of the Comptroller; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The Office of the Attorney General.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Qualifying Experience.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In order to meet the requirements of §D(3) of this regulation, an applicant shall have completed:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An average of 50 individual tax returns per year; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>No fewer than 25 individual tax returns per year.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Both paid and unpaid individual tax preparation services may qualify under this section.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Documentation. An applicant may document the experience required under this section through any of the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Employer certification;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Client certification; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Copies of completed individual tax returns.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Continuing Education. Qualifying continuing education programs shall comply with the requirements set forth in COMAR .09.38.02.03.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Reporting and Controls.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An applicant for waiver of the examination shall certify under penalty of perjury that the applicant meets the requirements set forth in §D of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Board at its discretion may verify the information and documentation supporting an application for waiver of examination.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An applicant shall comply with a request by the Board for additional documentation in support of an application for waiver of examination.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>