What is an Enrolled Agent?

An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally licensed tax practitioner authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in all tax matters. Enrolled Agents are the only tax professionals licensed directly by the federal government and are empowered to handle everything from tax preparation and audits to collections and appeals.

Unlike CPAs or attorneys, who are licensed at the state level and may not specialize in taxation, Enrolled Agents focus exclusively on tax law, compliance, and representation. To earn the designation, EAs must pass a comprehensive IRS examination covering individual and business tax returns or have prior experience working directly for the IRS. They are also required to complete continuing education each year to stay current with ever-changing tax laws and regulations.

As an EA, I am held to high ethical standards and bound by the same professional responsibilities as CPAs when representing clients before the IRS. This designation gives my clients confidence that they are receiving accurate, strategic, and IRS-compliant guidance—whether they need help filing a return, responding to a notice, or resolving a more complex tax issue.