Frequently Asked Questions

What is Enrolled agent?

An Enrolled agent is a tax professional who has demonstrated to the Internal Revenue Service that they have a specific competence in tax matters.

What is the difference between an Enrolled Agent, a CPA, and a Tax Attorney?

While all three are authorized to represent taxpayers in distress, Enrolled agents are the only taxpayer representatives that receive authorization to practice before the Internal Revenue Service directly from the federal government. CPAs and Attorneys are licensed by the state where their practice is located. Of the three, only Enrolled Agents are required to demonstrate, or prove their competence in tax matters to the Internal Revenue Service prior to be authorized to represent taxpayers.

If I am being audited, should I hire an Attorney?

If your problem is of criminal nature, you should hire an attorney. However, in most cases the best choice is to use an Enrolled Agent: they have the same right to practice before the IRS as a CPA or Attorney, an equivalent competence in tax matters, and they are usually much less expensive.