| When you are involved in a major tax issue with the | | | | to guarantee that their conduct befit that of someone |
| IRS, the best thing you can do to improve your | | | | authorized to practice before the IRS. |
| situation is to hire a professional to represent you. | | | | Most enrolled agents are not CPAs but they can |
| Although there are many who can represent you in an | | | | perform as such in their capacity as tax |
| Internal Revenue Service audit, you need to make sure | | | | representatives but for a fraction of the cost. You can |
| that the one you choose is qualified to handle your | | | | contact the National Association of Enrolled Agents to |
| case. | | | | get a list of agents near your area. This assures you |
| Certified Public Accountants | | | | that you will be hiring legitimate professionals. |
| CPAs not only prepare financial statements and file | | | | Tax Attorneys |
| your return, they can also plan your budget (or your | | | | Tax Attorneys are equipped with comprehensive |
| business's) for future periods to help you maximize | | | | training and knowledge of tax laws. They are |
| profit, minimize costs, and save on taxes. They provide | | | | especially qualified to help with your tax problems |
| a big help if your tax situation is complex because they | | | | because they have extensive experience in dealing |
| can help you track the source of your tax problems | | | | with the Internal Revenue Service and they know how |
| and give you advice on how to avoid similar problems | | | | the system works. In a complicated legal mess, a tax |
| in the future. | | | | attorney can offer tax advice to CPAs and enrolled |
| However, most CPAs focus their expertise on the | | | | agents. |
| financial statements of the individual or the company | | | | If you are involved in a major tax issue or if you need |
| that hired them so they may not be the best | | | | help with IRS problems, it is advisable for you to hire a |
| representatives if you need help with IRS problems. | | | | tax attorney for representation. They are more |
| This is because accountants usually lack the legal | | | | qualified compared to other tax representatives |
| background, familiarity of the law and experience to | | | | because of their ability to interpret the law in favor of |
| represent you in a tax dispute competently. | | | | their clients. |
| Enrolled Agents | | | | New tax laws are passed all the time so it is inevitable |
| Enrolled agents are experts in taxation although some | | | | that some taxpayers will have trouble keeping up with |
| of them focus their specialty on certain areas of the | | | | their payments. If you have tax problems or need |
| law so they are worth consulting if you have tax | | | | representation in a tax dispute with the IRS, you do not |
| problems. It is a requirement for them to have worked | | | | have to be alone. With a little research and hard work, |
| in the IRS for some time as auditors and to take and | | | | you can find a professional to help you resolve your |
| pass a written exam concerning federal tax laws. | | | | tax issues. |
| Enrolled agents should also pass background checks | | | | |