Choosing a Tax Professional
DID YOU KNOW:
- You can check list of CPAs, EAs, Attorney who are under disciplinary sanctions from IRS and are ineligible to represent before IRS
- Here is the IRS LINK (Read page 653 to 659)
Should I choose CPA or EA or Tax Preparer?
Here is my take - A credential of CPA or EA does not make you smart or logically capable. You can be smart and knowledgeable but can still screw up, right. Come on, you somewhat agree with me because we've all had our bad shares of lawyers, accountants, doctors, teachers. After all, we all are humans and prone to make mistakes. Tax Professional or Accountant or CPA or EA or even a Tax Preparer, whoever you choose, is someone who takes an approach of being effective communicator and builds a collaborative relationship with their clients.
CPA and EA - Education Difference
This is where the biggest difference between CPA and EA occurs. Enrolled Agents do not have a college education requirement. However, Certified Public Accountants must have right around 150 credit hours from a college or university with some accounting and business classes in the mix.
This is where the biggest difference between CPA and EA occurs. Enrolled Agents do not have a college education requirement. However, Certified Public Accountants must have right around 150 credit hours from a college or university with some accounting and business classes in the mix.
CPA and EA - Functional Difference
When it comes to functional difference and in mode of tax law, CPAs and EAs are essentially the same. Like we mentioned earlier about being smart and not smart- if your tax professional is not smart, sending them to CPA or EA school is not going to fix the problem. Every CPA or EA needs to stay abreast with constant changes in tax laws almost every year and they need keep improving with hard-work, their smarts.
One of the primary differences between CPA and EA is Compilation, Review and Audit work.
When it comes to functional difference and in mode of tax law, CPAs and EAs are essentially the same. Like we mentioned earlier about being smart and not smart- if your tax professional is not smart, sending them to CPA or EA school is not going to fix the problem. Every CPA or EA needs to stay abreast with constant changes in tax laws almost every year and they need keep improving with hard-work, their smarts.
One of the primary differences between CPA and EA is Compilation, Review and Audit work.
Bottom Line
Whether you choose CPA or EA or Tax Preparer, it depends on somewhat your personal choice and some digging you must have done. A Tax Preparer can have ample of experience and knowledge but no designation to back up with like CPA or EA but that does not mean the Tax Preparer cannot be a good Accountant or someone who you cannot trust with your tax needs.
Whether you choose CPA or EA or Tax Preparer, it depends on somewhat your personal choice and some digging you must have done. A Tax Preparer can have ample of experience and knowledge but no designation to back up with like CPA or EA but that does not mean the Tax Preparer cannot be a good Accountant or someone who you cannot trust with your tax needs.