What is an Enrolled Agent?

An Enrolled Agent (EA) is an individual who has demonstrated technical competence in the field of taxation.

An Enrolled Agent or EA can represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service.

What does the term "Enrolled Agent" mean?
"Enrolled" means EAs are licensed by the federal government.
"Agent" means EAs are authorized to appear in place of the taxpayer at the Internal Revenue Service.

Only EAs, attorneys and CPAs may represent taxpayers before the IRS.  The Enrolled Agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who represented citizens in their dealings with the Treasury Department.
 

How can an Enrolled Agent help me?

An EA advises, represents and prepares tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts and any entities with tax-reporting requirements.  EAs prepare millions of tax returns each year.

An EA's expertise in the continually changing field of tax law enables them to effectively represent taxpayers audited by the IRS.

Only an Enrolled Agent is required to demonstrate competence in matters of taxation to the Internal Revenue Service before representing a taxpayer before the IRS.  Unlike attorneys and CPAs, who may or may not choose to specialize in taxes.  ALL EAs SPECIALIZE IN TAXATION.  An EA is the only taxpayer representative who receives his or her right to practice from the United States government.  (CPAs annd attorneys are licensed by individual states.)