What is an Enrolled Agent? National Association of Enrolled Agents

enrolled agent

This means EAs can represent any taxpayer, whether they prepare returns for them or not. EAs can also represent any tax matter and appeal to any office of the IRS. Unlike the CPA credential, which falls under state boards for licensing, continuing education, and other compliance matters, the EA credential is valid in any state. An enrolled agent is a federally accredited tax practitioner who may represent taxpayers before the IRS. EAs are granted unlimited rights to represent any taxpayer for any tax matter before any IRS office.

  • A financial professional will offer guidance based on the information provided and offer a no-obligation call to better understand your situation.
  • Tax laws and regulations change regularly, thus creating a high demand for experienced professionals in this area.
  • In 1913, when the 16th Amendment was passed, EA duties expanded to include tax preparation and resolving taxpayer disputes with the IRS.
  • The social media team at H&R Block works to provide valuable tax and personal finance information to clients – and potential clients.
  • In the United States of America, an Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax advisor, who is a federally authorized tax practitioner which is empowered by the U.S.

NAEA has joined forces with Surgent Accounting & Financial Education to provide aspiring EAs with a best-in-class exam prep solution that’s customizable to your level of comprehension. Is a Maryland State Registered Tax Preparer, State Certified Notary Public, Certified VITA Tax Preparer, IRS Annual Filing Season Program Participant, and Tax Writer. Enrolled Agent status is the highest credential awarded by the IRS.[1] According to the National Association of Enrolled Agents, there are approximately 87,000 practicing EAs in the United States.

How Do I Become an Enrolled Agent?

CPAs and attorneys are licensed by the states, but enrolled agents are federally licensed. While the IRS requires all preparers to obtain and maintain a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), enrolled agents have gone beyond basic requirements and have demonstrated their expertise through testing. By definition, an enrolled agent (EA) is a tax professional who has achieved the highest credential the Internal Revenue Service offers. EAs are federally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS and, like CPAs and attorneys, have unlimited representation rights.

enrolled agent

We provide you with expert information, resources, and tools that help you grow and thrive. Sign in to create your job alert for Enrolled Agent jobs in New Hyde Park, New York, United States. At Finance Strategists, we partner with financial experts to ensure the accuracy of our financial content. A more proactive approach is looking online for freelancing registered agents in respective localities. The NAEA website’s Find a Tax Expert page provides an online directory. For broader accounting needs, a CPA can be an advantage, especially when you need a financial statement for a bank loan.

What is your current financial priority?

In 1913, when the 16th Amendment was passed, EA duties expanded to include tax preparation and resolving taxpayer disputes with the IRS. In 1972, a group of enrolled agents collaborated to form the NAEA to represent the interests of EAs and increase the professional development of its members. During this time, the individual will be ineligible to practice before the Internal Revenue Service and may not state or imply that they are eligible to represent taxpayers, use the term Enrolled Agent, or use the EA designation. In the United States of America, an Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax advisor, who is a federally authorized tax practitioner which is empowered by the U.S.

Reputable preparers will ask to see receipts and will ask multiple questions to determine whether expenses, deductions, and other items qualify. By doing so, they are trying to help their clients avoid penalties, interest, or additional taxes that could result from an IRS examination. An Enrolled Agent is authorized by the U.S. federal government to represent taxpayers before the IRS. The hiring of tax examiners is projected to decline 4% from 2020 to 2030 as the growth of the tax examiner industry is closely tied to changes in federal, state, and local government budgets. The growth of the enrolled agent industry depends on industry rule changes and the demand for tax services.

Top Online Bachelor’s

Because enrolled agents have such diverse backgrounds and may offer a variety of services, it is important to talk with your enrolled agent about how best to put his or her expertise to work for you. Find an enrolled agent near you with NAEA’s Find a Tax Expert Directory. Yarilet Perez is an experienced multimedia journalist and fact-checker with a Master of Science in Journalism. She has worked in multiple cities covering breaking news, politics, education, and more.

There is a three-part examination process known as the Special Enrollment Examination or SEE. The purpose of this rigorous exam is to ensure that you possess thorough knowledge of tax law. Our writing and editorial staff are a team of experts holding advanced financial designations and have written for most major financial media publications.