What is an Enrolled Agent?




                As IRS adds more rules for the regulation of tax preparers the name Enrolled Agent is mentioned more often. You may have asked yourself, What is an Enrolled Agent? I have been an Enrolled Agent for 20 years and I can say that we as a group don't promote ourselves as much as we should. On page two of form 2848 ( Power of Attorney) there are 11 groups that have authority before the IRS of those 11 only 3 have the authority to represent anyone before the IRS: Attorney's Certified Public Accountant and Enrolled Agents.

                Enrolled Agents are the only group who must pass a two day test on taxes given by the Department of Treasury and our license is valid in all fifty states and U.S. Territories. CPA's take a two day test also but it is given by the State they wish to practice accounting in and one half day is on taxes. For Attorney's depending on the state they wish to practice law in the test is one to three days and only a minimum amount is on taxes. CPAs and Attorneys all must take continuing education courses for their profession and part of that is on taxes if their practice is in tax preparation or representation. Enrolled Agents must take a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education tax courses a year in order to keep their license in good standing with the Department of Treasury.

If you have any further questions regarding this topic feel free to leave a comment or go to our website and send me a message. www.sykesaccounting.com

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