Live Webinar · Monday, October 5, 2026
The ERO
Webinar
What an Electronic Return Originator is, the credentials behind it, and the systems that carry a real tax season — with your 3-Day Challenge assignments.
Hosted by Rebecca Davis
Before we begin
01
Say hello
Drop your name and city in the chat so we know who's in the room.
02
Stay to the end
The 3-Day Challenge assignments are released during the session — one per day, three total.
03
Save your questions
Open Q&A near the end. Write questions down as we go so nothing gets lost.
04
Grab the workbook
Everything tonight maps to the 3-Day Challenge workbook at taxtymeprowebinar.com/workbook.
Tonight's roadmap
We end by 8:30 PM sharp. The replay goes to everyone registered.
What an ERO is
An Electronic Return Originator is the business authorized to originate the electronic submission of tax returns to the IRS.
The ERO holds the EFIN — the Electronic Filing Identification Number assigned through the IRS e-file application.
EROs sit between the taxpayer and the IRS: intake, signature, transmission, and acknowledgment all flow through the office.
What an ERO is not
“It's just tax prep software”
Software transmits; the ERO is the credentialed business of record responsible for compliance.
“Anyone can e-file for clients”
Originating returns requires an IRS e-file application, suitability checks, and an active EFIN.
“Compliance is a once-a-year task”
Due diligence, recordkeeping, and security are year-round operating habits.
The ERO roadmap
01
Credentials
Research your PTIN and the IRS e-file application for your EFIN. Know the suitability requirements before you apply.
02
Business setup
Entity, EIN, bank account, and a written data security plan — the foundation a first season stands on.
03
Software & providers
Choose professional tax software and any bank products that fit your office model.
04
First season
Intake, due diligence, transmission, and follow-up — run the season on checklists, not memory.
Systems that keep a season running
Client intake
One standard intake packet. Every client, every time — no improvising in February.
Due diligence
Documented questions and retained records that stand up if the IRS ever asks.
Recordkeeping
Organized, retrievable files — signed forms, acknowledgments, and correspondence.
Workflow
Checklists from greeting to acknowledgment so nothing depends on memory under pressure.
Each of these maps to a full track inside the ERO Academy.
The 3-Day Challenge
Tonight is the map. The next three days are the walk. One focused assignment per day — each takes under an hour.
Day 1
Foundation
Get honest about where you stand — credentials, setup, and readiness.
Day 2
Systems
Design the intake and due-diligence workflow your season will run on.
Day 3
Growth
Set your 90-day growth plan and choose the support tier to get there.
Know your starting line
Write down your current status: PTIN yes/no, EFIN applied/approved/not started, entity formed or not.
List the top three gaps between where you are and a ready-to-open ERO office.
Complete the ERO Business Assessment and get your Readiness Score out of 100.
Turn it in
Your Readiness Score and your three gaps, written in your workbook's Day 1 page.
Do it here: taxtymeprowebinar.com/ero-onboarding
ERO Onboarding → Business Assessment & Score
Build your season workflow
Draft your client intake checklist: every document and question a new client touches before prep begins.
Write your due-diligence habit: what you verify, what you retain, and where records live.
Map the seven steps of a return in your office — from greeting to IRS acknowledgment.
Turn it in
Your one-page season workflow, sketched in the workbook's Day 2 page or the Action Plan.
Do it here: taxtymeprowebinar.com/action-plan
Action Plan worksheet — fill in the Systems section
Commit to the next 90 days
Choose your 90-day priority: credentials, systems, or marketing — one, not three.
Set a measurable season goal: number of returns, preparers, or offices.
Pick your support lane — free resources, ERO Builder, Inner Circle, Elite, or VIP — and register.
Turn it in
Your 90-Day ERO Growth Plan and your membership choice, submitted through the site.
Do it here: taxtymeprowebinar.com/membership
Membership tiers — choose your lane
The season rewards the prepared
Workbook
Every assignment lives in the 3-Day Challenge workbook — a digital download class edition.
taxtymeprowebinar.com/workbook
ERO Academy
Six self-paced tracks: Foundations, Compliance, Operations, Software, Marketing, Scaling.
taxtymeprowebinar.com/ero-academy
Membership
Continue with ERO Builder, Inner Circle, Elite, or VIP support after the challenge.
taxtymeprowebinar.com/membership
Q&A is open now — and Day 1 starts tomorrow morning.