Today’s Tax Code is Complex
• Hundreds of annual changes
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New international income and asset reporting
New health care provisions
Landmark court cases
Expired laws
Regulatory changes to IRA rollovers
Some states don’t comply with IRC
Inflationary indexed limits and phase-outs
• Changes can take affect in the middle of the tax year
• Some unpaid tax penalties are 5%, 20%, 75% and even 100%
• EA’s have the research tools and education requirements to stay on top
Taxpayers Have Tax Representation Rights
• Enrolled Agents, (EA’s) - tax professionals who earned the right to
practice before the IRS.
• EA’s can speak, negotiate and reach settlements for the taxpayer
• EA’s are established and governed by the US Treasury
• Unlimited rights of representation at hearings, meetings and audits
• Filing tax documents and preparing back up materials.
Enrolled Agents – America’s Tax Experts
• The highest credential awarded by the IRS
• Fewer than 50,000 Enrolled Agents in the US, about 1,000 in MA
• The only federally licensed tax professional
• The only tax professional to specialize in taxation
• The only tax professional who must demonstrate tax competence
• Individuals, Estates, Trusts, Businesses
• Ethics
• Representation Procedures
Find an EA in your area at
http://www.maseaonline.org/tax-payers/locate-an-ea
EA Requirements
• Pass a three part IRS exam
• Tax compliance and back ground check
• Apply for admission
• Annual 24 IRS CPE credits each year, (MASEA 30 hours)
• Annual PTIN registration
• US Treasury Circular 230
• Three year renewal
What do EA’s do?
• Prepare Tax Returns
• Advise
• Tax planning and forecasting
• Amend any tax filing
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mortgage applications
college aid
retirement planning
estate administration
incorporation
• Study tax
• Give presentations
• Write tax articles
Learn more about an EA
• NAEA.org, National Association of Enrolled Agents
http://www.naea.org/taxpayers/what-enrolled-agent
• MASEAOnline.org, Mass Society of Enrolled Agents
http://www.maseaonline.org/about-us/what-is-an-ea/
What do EA’s want?
• Legislation to address Loving vs IRS, 2013 PTC 10
• IRC Stability
• Practitioner Priority Service levels of service