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. Enrolled agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards a tax professional.
Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), have unlimited practice rights. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before. Unlike attorneys and CPAs, who may or may not choose to specialize in taxes, all enrolled agents specialize in taxation.
CPAs and attorneys are licensed by the states, but enrolled agents are federally licensed and have gone beyond basic requirements to demonstrate their expertise and knowledge.
Taxpayers who find themselves in tax trouble are allowed to represent themselves before the various administrative levels of the IRS. However, most taxpayers facing an IRS collection action, an IRS audit of any sort (whether the IRS asks for mounds of documents by mail or requests an in-person examination), or an appeal of any collection or examination action would be wise to send a qualified tax expert in his or her place. Taxpayers who are represented have a guide who can lead them through the process, someone authorized to speak on their behalf (and in their place) and right for the best possible outcome.
Enrolled agents advise, represent, and prepare the tax returns of individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts, and any other entity with tax reporting requirements. EAs prepare millions of tax returns each year and their expertise in the continually changing field of taxation enables them to effectively represent taxpayers audited by the IRS. In addition to tax preparation and tax representation, many enrolled agents offer other business-related services which vary from bookkeeping, financial planning, payroll and advisory.
We're a full-service, outsourced accounting firm that helps small businesses achieve truly better outcomes. We roll all of our services together into an "outsourced accounting service", so we can provide a one-stop-shop solution for small business owners. Here are some of the services that are included in our outsourced accounting service.
