Posted on 02/23/2014 9:54:09 AM PST by LouAvul
I recently graduated with a Business degree, accounting major. I initially wanted to pursue a CPA license, but it doesn't look practical at this point.
How did you prepare to pass the EA exam? Gleim?
Thanks.
Why would you want to work for the enemy?
I have successfully used Gleim for several accounting certs. Good product.
Not sure I’d recommend the EA route as a final goal. But it’s a good place to start.
Gleim is easy and cheap. I used it to pass the CPA, CMA, CIA and EA. Best one for the money, especially if you are good at self study. I just used the book.
Out of curiosity, why is the CPA not attainable? Just do it at your own pace and study.
http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Enrolled-Agents/Enrolled-Agent-Information
Thought about it back when I was doing taxes. EA is not that hard basically you have to pass an exam the IRS came up with Not sure if just being an EA gives you any edge in the tax business. The most important thing is experience of the tax preparing kind. It is kind of late to get schooled up and in gear for this tax season. H&R Block offers a basic tax preparer course that you pay for and they may hire you for the next tax season, There are other high volume tax preparers out there. The low volume high dollar preparers are CPA’s and Tax attorneys which share with the EA the ability to practice in tax court.
An enrolled agent functions not unlike H&R Block, viz. paid tax preparer. I just wish I spoke Spanish.
Practice in federal courts
Enrolled agent status does not automatically allow the enrollee to practice before the United States Tax Court. That practice is limited to members of the Bar of the Court.
The Internal Revenue Code states, “No qualified person shall be denied admission to practice before the Tax Court because of his failure to be a member of any profession or calling.” Bar membership for non-attorneys requires that the applicant pass a Tax Court examination. Attorneys are admitted to the Bar of the Tax Court without having to take the examination.
AND, if get real serious about some really BIG money, you might want to look into a CFA licence. REALLY BIG MONEY with a CFA shingle to hang out.
Get your CPA.
Wishing isn't enough. You can learn it for free on youtube.
“Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), have unlimited practice rights”
Quote from the IRS web site I cited in the original post tax matters only tax court is very different from other federal courts.
CPA’s can do far more than Enrolled Agents (EA’s cannot perform the attest function)
Attorneys can do far more than CPA’s but not everything that CPA’s do.
As it relates to the IRS, all three must pretty much follow the same rules and procedures and are held to the regulations of IRC Circular 230.
However EA’s do not have the same abilities due to individual state regulations that restrict abilities. One of the main abilities are the rules relating to confidentiality. There is no protection of work papers or documents in the EA’s file.
I’m a retired litigation consultant working with many attorneys and often I would tell a client that they need an attorney and I will work for the attorney in order to provide protection on such matters as completing the FBAR requirements. If an EA completes the form they can be prosecuted for practicing law without a license as the requirements do not fall under Title 26 of the USC and therefor are outside the legal jurisdiction of EA’s.
The same thing is true when dealing with tax court matters. An EA’s inability to protect their client’s confidentiality may expose the client to damaging discovery while an attorney may block the IRS.
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