An IRS enrolled agent is a federally licensed tax specialist. In this role, they have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS in any situation.
- Enrolled Agent (or EA) is a tax advisor, who is a federally authorized tax practitioner empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Enrolled Agents represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax issues that include audits, collections and appeals. Enrolled Agent status is the highest credential awarded by the IRS.
What is the federal tax agent called?
Enrolled Agent (or EA) is a tax advisor, who is a federally authorized tax practitioner empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
What are tax professionals called?
If you decide to use a tax professional, you will generally find two main categories of tax service providers: the licensed tax professional—a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or the unlicensed tax professional—a tax preparer.
What is difference between CPA and EA?
EAs and CPAs are both knowledgeable, experienced professionals who are required to maintain high ethical standards. The primary difference between an EA vs CPA is that EAs specialize in taxation, and CPAs can specialize in taxation and more.
What is an EA tax preparer?
An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service by either passing a three-part comprehensive IRS test covering individual and business tax returns, or through experience as a former IRS employee.
Are Enrolled Agents licensed?
Enrolled Agents (EAs) are federally-licensed tax practitioners who may represent taxpayers before the IRS when it comes to collections, audits and appeals.
Is a CPA a practitioner?
While both can be licensed tax practitioners, each position comes at it from a different perspective. When looking at the broad picture, CPAs are trained in a broad range of topics related to accounting. Those topics can include auditing, business law, finance, and taxes, to name a few.
What is a licensed tax consultant?
A tax consultant has to undergo extensive taxation training before becoming a professional tax. A tax consultant/advisor is referred to as a tax accountant who helps people and organisations to complete their tax returns every financial year.
Is a tax agent an accountant?
Tax agents are a specialist type of accountant – namely, they specialise in taxation accounting. To do this, they have studied tax and law to be registered by the TPB. Having this registration means that they can provide tax services to the public – as long as they renew their licence every three years.
What is an EA license?
An enrolled agent is a federally licensed tax practitioner who has unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS for any issues relating to collections, audits, or tax appeals.
What does the title EA mean?
An enrolled agent is a tax practitioner who is licensed at the federal level by the Internal Revenue Service. In fact, enrolled agent status is the highest credential awarded by the IRS. On the other hand, certified public accountants are licensed by their applicable state boards of accountancy.
Is EA higher than CPA?
In general, CPAs earn more than EAs in all career levels. However, the CPA credential requires significantly more schooling, time, and upfront costs than the EA credential. The EA credential is also more client-focused than a CPA credential. These are both factors to weigh alongside salary numbers for each profession.
What is the difference between a tax preparer and an enrolled agent?
Similar to a CPA, an enrolled agent is also a certified tax professional. However, an enrolled agent is a federally-authorized tax practitioner rather than a state-licensed professional. The most conspicuous difference between CPAs and enrolled agents is the relationship they have with taxpayers.
How do I find an enrolled agent?
To find an enrolled agent over the phone, call the NAEA toll-free at (800)424-4339 to access their 24/7 referral service.
How do you get an EA license?
Steps to becoming an Enrolled Agent
- Step 1: Enroll in the Chartered Tax Professional CTP® certificate program.
- Step 2: Complete a Surgent EA review course.
- Step 3 – Take the IRS SEE examination.
- Step 4 – Register with the IRS as an Enrolled Agent.
- Step 5 – Continue your education to maintain your EA credential.