Starts Tuesday, October 27
Enrollment closes Thursday, November 5
TaxProfessional
A private, live cohort that takes you from your PTIN to your IRS Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion, with real-world returns prepared in professional tax software. You'll be ready before the 2027 filing season.
Knowledge is common. Readiness is rare.
Most new preparers learn tax law from a textbook, then freeze in front of a real client file.
The Journal TaxPro Academy is built differently. You'll learn the rules, prepare real-world returns in professional tax software, check your own work every week, and finish with your IRS credential by December 31.
- Your IRS AFSP Record of CompletionA listing in the IRS public directory of preparers with credentials, and limited representation rights for returns you prepare.
- 6 professional practice returnsFrom a simple W-2 return to a full family capstone, each checked against its Solution Guide.
- A reference library for every seasonThe Lab Workbook, Solution Guides, and the Tax Documents Reference Guide.
- A clear path forwardSeasonal roles, local tax offices, and the option to apply to contract with Journal Audits.
3 movements every week.
18 hours of IRS-approved continuing education through Fast Forward Academy, included in your tuition.
Live classes twice a week and a hands-on lab every week, preparing real-world returns in professional tax software.
Weekly assessments, a Final Certification Exam, and your AFSP Record of Completion from the IRS.
8 weeks to your IRS credential.
PTIN, Ethics & the Form 1040
Get your PTIN, learn your ethical duties under Circular 230, and see how a Form 1040 fits together.
Filing Status, Dependents & Education Credits
Choose the right filing status, qualify dependents, and claim education credits correctly.
Schedule C & Due Diligence
Prepare self-employment returns and meet your due diligence requirements as a preparer.
Itemized Deductions, Rentals & Home Sales
Compare standard and itemized deductions, report rental property, and handle the sale of a home.
Retirement Income & Social Security
Report retirement distributions and figure taxable Social Security. No class Thanksgiving.
Return Review & Final Certification Exam
Review returns like a professional and take your Final Certification Exam.
Mentorship: Finish Strong
2 weeks of guided mentorship to complete every requirement, earn your AFSP Record of Completion, and explore your career pathways.
Everything, curated.
Made for people ready to do the work.
This is for you if you're
- A career changer who wants a skill you can use every tax season
- A bookkeeper or administrative professional ready to add tax preparation
- A new preparer who wants structure, practice, and a credential
It isn't for you if
- You can't commit to live classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings
- You prefer a self-paced course you can finish on your own schedule
- You can't set aside about 4 to 6 hours a week outside class
“Every professional deserves real practice, clear standards, and someone in their corner on day one.”
Artensia Delbridge, MAcc, is the Founder and Lead Accountant of Journal Audits, a tax, accounting, bookkeeping, and advisory firm in Richmond, Virginia. Every day, she prepares returns, cleans up and manages books, and guides individuals and small businesses through the same situations you'll practice in this program.
Teaching has always been part of her work. She founded Clear the Books, a bookkeeping training program, to give people a practical path into the profession, and she has shared her expertise as a speaker on panels and podcasts.
She built the Journal TaxPro Academy to give new preparers what every professional needs on day one: real practice with real-world client files, clear standards, and someone in their corner. In this cohort, you learn directly from a working practitioner, not a recording.
Reserve your seat in the cohort.
You'll pay your own IRS PTIN fee directly to the IRS.
- 15 live sessions with replays
- 18 hours of IRS-approved CE
- Professional tax software access
- 6 lab packets with Solution Guides
- Tax Documents Reference Guide
- December mentorship
- Private student community
- Career pathways session
What you're committing to
- Tuition is non-refundable.
- Live attendance is expected. Missing more than 2 sessions isn't recommended.
- All coursework is due December 15; the IRS deadline for your Record of Completion is December 31.
- Seats are limited to 12. Enrollment closes when the cohort is full or on November 5, whichever comes first.
- Full details are in the Enrollment Terms.
Before you decide.
Do I need tax experience?
No. The program starts with the basics and builds every week.
What is the AFSP?
The IRS Annual Filing Season Program recognizes non-credentialed preparers who complete continuing education and consent to IRS standards. You'll receive a Record of Completion from the IRS.
What if I miss a class?
Every class is recorded. Watch the replay before the next session. Missing more than 2 live sessions isn't recommended.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. At checkout, you can pay in full by card, bank, PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, or split your tuition with Afterpay or PayPal Pay Later. Options range from 4 interest-free payments to monthly plans, depending on the provider and approval.
What do I need?
A computer with internet, Zoom, and about 4 to 6 hours a week outside class.
Is the software included?
Yes. You'll get a practice account in professional tax software for the weekly labs.
What can I do after I finish?
Graduates can apply for seasonal preparer roles with national companies like H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and TurboTax, or with local tax offices. Graduates also have the option to apply to contract with Journal Audits. We cover every path in the final class.
Can I join after classes start?
Yes, until enrollment closes on Thursday, November 5. Sessions held before you enroll don't count against the attendance policy. Just watch those replays during your first week.
Your tax career begins October 27.
12 seats. A single cohort this season. Enrollment closes Thursday, November 5.