Become a US Tax Preparer: Form 1040 Mastery
Learn to prepare US individual tax returns, check whether you qualify for a PTIN, and understand the e-filing options open to preparers outside the US. No US degree or prior tax knowledge needed; current to Tax Year 2026.
Status
Live
Enrolment
Open
Learning time
11h 29m (learning time)
Certificate
Certificate of completion
CPD accreditation
Not yet confirmed
Platform
Payhip
Disclaimer
Any stated hours are learning time only. A completion certificate is not the same as professional-body CPD/CPE accreditation; CPD eligibility depends on your professional body and is only stated when confirmed.
Why this course is different
Registration rules for preparers abroad
Beyond the tax itself, the course explains who can get a PTIN without a US SSN (Forms W-12 and 8946) and what that does and does not allow, how EFINs and e-filing work for preparers outside the US, and the WISP data-security plan you need. Whether you qualify depends on your own circumstances.
Finding work and your first client
A full career section: where the work is, how to price it, how to look for work from abroad, and how to handle your first client from engagement letter to getting paid. Earnings depend on you and your market; none are promised.
Current to Tax Year 2026
Built on post-OBBBA 2026 law, and refreshed every tax year as the IRS releases new figures.
Learn by filing, with a portfolio
Four fictional clients you follow throughout, and you finish with a portfolio of four completed returns you can show clients or employers.
What you'll learn
- Prepare a complete Form 1040 with its key schedules (A, B, C, D, SE)
- Check whether you qualify for a PTIN without an SSN, and understand EFINs, e-filing and the WISP you need
- Apply the post-OBBBA Tax Year 2026 numbers, deductions, credits and deadlines
- Handle self-employment, investments, retirement and the QBI deduction
- Build a portfolio of four completed returns you can show to clients or employers
- Find your first clients and price your work
Curriculum
14 sections · 74 lectures · 11h 29m
The opportunity, the US tax system in plain terms, your toolkit, and a quick win, prepare a simple 1040 before any theory.
- The opportunity: what US preparers earn and the career paths (course trailer)Free6 m
- The US tax system in 10 minutesFree10 m
- Your course toolkit and the four clients you'll work with5 m
- Quick win: prepare a simple 1040 in 15 minutesFree14 m
What you get
- 74 video lectures across 14 sections (11h 29m)
- Downloadable cheat sheets and practice files in every section
- Quizzes built around real client scenarios
- A capstone full 1040, plus a four-return portfolio
- Certificate of completion
- Bilingual (English & Arabic) with free yearly updates
One-time payment, lifetime access and free yearly updates.
Enrol nowFull version on Payhip; tester/discovery version on Udemy.
Who's teaching you
Ibrahem Almahawe
Founder of FileMinder and author of an eight-book international taxation series. He teaches US tax in clear, plain language for a global audience.
See the book series →AI Accounting Practice Toolkit
A separate practical course for using ChatGPT, Copilot, Xero, QuickBooks, Zapier, Power Automate and Power BI safely in accounting practice, bookkeeping and reporting workflows.
View the AI bookkeeping courseWho this course is for
- Accountants and accounting students who want a global, in-demand skill
- Bookkeepers and finance professionals adding US tax to their services
- Career-switchers looking for remote, location-independent work
- Anyone serving US clients, expats or US-connected businesses from abroad
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a US degree or US residency?
No US degree is needed, and you can study from any country. Being paid to prepare US returns needs a PTIN, and from outside the US that depends on your circumstances: the course explains the IRS conditions for a PTIN without an SSN and the e-filing routes, so you can check whether you qualify.
Do I need prior tax experience?
No. We start from zero, and there's an optional accounting-basics refresher for anyone who wants it.
Is the content up to date?
Yes, it's current to Tax Year 2026 (post-OBBBA) and refreshed every year.
How do I get paid as a preparer from my country?
Section 1 explains registration (who can get a PTIN without an SSN, and how EFINs and e-filing work for preparers abroad), and Section 11 covers finding work, pricing and getting paid.
Is the course in Arabic?
Yes, the course is fully bilingual, English and Arabic.
Is the course CPD accredited?
CPD accreditation is not currently confirmed for this course. Its certificate of completion should not be treated as a CPD-accredited certificate. If accreditation is awarded, we will publish the accrediting body and recognised hours after confirmation.
Where do I take the course?
The course is on Payhip. Click 'Enrol now' at the top of this page to go straight to checkout and get instant access.
How do I enrol?
Click 'Enrol now' on this page. You'll be taken to Payhip's checkout and get instant access to all 74 lessons as soon as payment is confirmed.
Start today at the founding-student price
£59 one-time. Instant access. Free yearly updates. Price goes up when the founding window closes.
Enrol now, £59Educational material only, not legal or tax advice. © FileMinder.co.uk 2026