About CTEC

The California Tax Education Council (CTEC) was established by the California State Legislature to promote competent tax preparation within the State of California.

The responsibility for approving tax schools and certifying the education of tax preparers was transferred by the Governor of California and the California State Legislature from the California State Tax Preparer Program in the Department of Consumer Affairs to the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) effective July 1, 1997, (Statutes of 1996, Chapter 1137- Senate Bill 1077, authored by Senator Leroy Greene).

CTEC is a California non-profit Corporation that registers tax preparers, the second largest segment of tax preparation professionals serving California, following certified public accountants. Anyone who, for a fee, assists with or prepares a state or federal income tax return, excluding certified public accountants, attorneys, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, and certain financial institutions or their employees, must be registered with CTEC. CTEC is also charged with approving providers of tax education and maintaining and distributing to the public a list of those approved providers.

The Board of Directors is comprised of unpaid volunteers appointed to the Board by certain Qualified Organizations. The Council includes several committees that carryout the work of the Council. The day-to-day work of the Council is carried out by the CTEC Administrator under a contract awarded by the Board of Directors.