Becoming a certified enrolled agent is the highest credential awarded by the IRS. Tax return preparers are a vital part of the U.S. tax system. About 56 percent of taxpayers use tax professionals to prepare their returns. To become a tax attorney you must complete law school and earn a Juris Doctor degree.

So, how do you know when to work with one over the other? Many EAs are also members of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, which has even higher standards for continuing education, as well as its own Code of Ethics. US Enrolled Agent Vs Cpa Mastercard Zero Liability does not apply to commercial accounts . Conditions and exceptions apply – see your Cardholder Agreement for details about reporting lost or stolen cards and liability for unauthorized transactions.

Enrolled Agent (EA) FAQs

CPAs can focus on taxes as well as other topics that have little to do with taxes, such as corporate finance or auditing. EAs have an extensive understanding of all things tax-related. They can help with information on inheritance tax, income tax, tax returns, tax planning, IRS or state representation, and others. For this reason, most undergraduates pursue a master’s degree in a related field to make up the difference. While an Enrolled Agent and a Certified Public Accountant are skilled and authorized tax professionals. However, an Enrolled Agent is specifically focused on taxation, whereas a CPA can specialize in taxation and other financial and accounting matters.

• This continued professional relationship sets CPAs apart from other tax preparers.
• EAs can represent individuals and businesses with the IRS if they are facing an audit.
• EAs must pass a three-part series of tests called the Special Enrollment Examination that covers individual and business tax laws and representation issues.
• If you are looking for someone who can help you resolve tax debt other tax problems, then you should hire someone who specializes in tax relief.
• Members of the National Association of Enrolled Agents must maintain even higher standards for continuing education.
• The income potential for EAs tends to flatten out over time with peak earnings to be around $60,000.

I found Mike Habib through my own online search and contacted him. He was very professional with great communication, always answering my questions and concerns. Mike resolved my complicated tax problem just as he said he would. I would definitely recommend his services to family and friends.

The different types of tax professionals: EA vs CPA vs Tax Attorney

This chart presents the totals for the Enrolled Agent exam and the CPA Exam costs. Keep in mind these are minimum costs – they don’t take retakes or more expensive prep materials into account. Regarding accounting credentials, the CPA and EA are both good options. Plus, they each have pros and cons and distinct effects on your long-term career.

Unlike a CPA or enrolled agent that specifically has extensive tax preparation education and experience, a bookkeeper typically only has tax knowledge from filing their own personal returns. Enrolled agents have advanced knowledge of tax issues, which makes them an excellent resource for tax advisory and filing needs. Much like CPAs, enrolled agents are also subject to ongoing educational requirements.

What Is an Enrolled Agent?

You will then need a review course that will prepare you for the difficult CPA exam. Typically, there is a registration fee and a separate fee for each section of the exam. A simple tax return is one that’s filed using IRS Form 1040 only, without having to attach any forms or schedules. Each state also has its own rules for maintaining the license, but most require at least 40 hours of continuing education per year, with four of those hours covering ethics.

• And in order to maintain CPA licensure, you will have to take ongoing continuing education courses, which can also cost a pretty penny.
• In case you fail an EA exam part, you can take each section a total of four times during a single testing window .
• There is no designated location for enrolled agents to work.
• User reviews of professionals are based solely on objective criteria.
• There is, therefore, a greater demand for the high expertise that comes with a CPA, though micro accounting EA’s also fetch good salaries.

To become an EA, candidates must pass a three-part test, apply to the IRS, and pass a background check. Line balance must be paid down to zero by February 15 each year. Year-round access may require an Emerald Savings® account. When you use an ATM, in addition to the fee charged by the bank, you may be charged an additional fee by the ATM operator. See your Cardholder Agreement for details on all ATM fees.

If you’re looking for a broader scope of expertise, CPAs are the way to go. As for employment situations, jobs for CPAs and EAs usually take place in different environments. Specifically, enrolled agents usually don’t work for a firm.

When providing advice to clients, EAs must practice integrity and take appropriate measures to comply with all legal obligations. They must maintain the confidentiality of their client’s information and avoid potential conflicts of interest. According to Payscale.com, enrolled agents typically make anywhere between $30,000-$75,000 a year, while CPAs make between $40,000-$104,000 annually. EAs are not as common in the business sector, which means that you could choose to work from home. CPAs, on the other hand, are integral to businesses and also work in the public sector in more traditional capacity. Being an EA offers more flexibility in terms of lifestyle in terms of choosing where and how much you want to work.

This combination of skills is attractive to small businesses needing both audit and tax services, preferably coming from the same team. Finally, once you pass the EA exam and are ready to become an enrolled agent, you’ll have to pay the IRS $140 to complete the enrollment process. Over the course of becoming an EA, you’ll also want to consider additional enrolled https://www.wave-accounting.net/ agent exam costs covering retakes, testing appointment reschedules, and continuing education courses. If your path to the IRS enrolled agent credential runs through the EA exam, you don’t need to meet an experience requirement. Thankfully, you’ll receive your exam results immediately. And once you’ve passed, you can apply for enrollment by filling out Form 23.

The reason for this is the amount of information both exams cover. EAs must be tax experts, so the SEE goes into great depth on tax matters. However, the CPA Exam covers four different subfields of accountancy.