Why is the EA exam closed in March and April?
2026-11-03 · 2 minute read · By Binod Raj Singh, CPA
The IRS updates the exam with the latest tax law every year. Testing stops in March and April while that happens.
Each testing window ends on the last day of February. The IRS then closes testing for March and April and uses that time to update the exam with the most recent tax law.
What it means for your plan
- Book late-window appointments early. January and February fill as candidates try to finish before the update.
- If you sit a part after the update, study for the new tax year's law, not the one in your old notes.
- Your passed parts are not affected by the closure, as long as they stay within their 3-year carryover period.
For the 2026 to 2027 window, US testing runs from July 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027.