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- Non-exempt persons must take and pass the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE).
- I’m starting with this, instead of “why you should be licensed”, because I feel like it’s the most salient point for anybody reading this blog.
- This exam covers auditing and attestation, business environment and concepts, financial accounting and reporting, and regulation.
- Congress created the designation of enrolled agent in 1884 following the Civil War.
- Discussed below are the primary differences between EAs and CPAs, which should provide a better understanding of which professional is most suitable for the work required.
- Or, for specific recommendations on which enrolled agent exam prep you should choose, feel free to leave a comment or email me.
- EAs have limited client privilege under the terms of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.
In fact, with this independence, you can work as much as you like and on whatever kind of accounts you like. I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites. To focus on your weak areas, take a practice quiz at the start of each study unit. Then, use the results of the quiz to figure out which topics need more of your attention. After that, prioritize those topics in your reading and quizzes until you’ve aced them.
Top Tips for Prospective EA Accountants
This could depend on where the individual is on the career ladder. However, the salary of a CPA will quickly exceed the salary pace of an EA. This is because the income potential for enrolled agents tends to taper out over time. By comparison, a CPA can have a number of opportunities for earning money.
Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing education every three years. A minimum of 16 hours must be earned per year, two of which must be on ethics. Tax return preparers who have PTINs but are not listed in the directory may provide quality return preparation services, but choose any return preparer wisely. EAs who also hold what is an enrolled agent CPA licensure and wish to investigate financial crimes might consider becoming certified in financial forensics (CFF). The American Institute for Certified Public Accountants offers CFF certification to CPAs. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and have completed at least 75 hours of professional education in the last five years.
What’s the Difference? Enrolled Agent vs. CPA
Although H&R Block does not provide public accounting services, we do have tax preparers who are CPAs who can prepare your tax return to get your maximum refund, guaranteed.Disclaimer number84. NAEA members are held to a higher standard than the IRS’ minimum 72 hour continuing education requirement. NAEA members must complete https://www.bookstime.com/ 30 hours of IRS-approved continuing education hours each year (which would lead to a total of 90 hours for each three-year EA enrollment cycle period). Because of the expertise necessary to become an enrolled agent and the requirements to maintain the license, there are only about 53,700 practicing enrolled agents.
In 1884, the Horse Act was signed into law by President Chester Arthur to establish and standardize enrolled agents. When your new enrollment cycle begins, you will be required to satisfy the full 72-hour continuing education credit requirement. Any tax professional with an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) is authorized to prepare federal tax returns. However, tax professionals have differing levels of skills, education and expertise. Professionals who help clients with taxes may benefit from becoming enrolled agents (EAs). The IRS empowers EAs with tools unavailable to most other tax preparers.