The fees are being refunded because federal courts decided in the case Loving vs. IRS that the agency did not have the legal authority to mandate testing for paid preparers.

The IRS said it is committed to ensuring paid preparers pass a test to demonstrate minimal competency and receive annual continuing education. An interim Annual Filing Season Program was launched last year to offer voluntary continuing education by non-credentialed tax return preparers.

The Administration's 2016 budget proposal would provide the IRS with authority to regulate all paid tax return preparers.