Enrolled Agent List

[rjholmes]

An attorney friend asked me this, and I did not know. Is there a site where a person could get listings of enrolled agents in the area? IRS.gov has a listing of ero's, but I can't find one for enrolled agents.

[S T]

Naea

Try NAEA as a client would, if they are a member, you will find a list.

Sandy

[oceanlovin'ea]

yes

NAEA,org has a list of all enrolled agents who belong to NAEA. I don't know how you would find ones who do not belong to NAEA.

Linda

[ChEAr$]

NAEA,org has a list of all enrolled agents who belong to NAEA. I don't know how you would find ones who do not belong to NAEA.

Linda

You won't. NAEA membership is about 25% of all EA's in the US.

[taxea]

May first question is: why does he want a list?

He would have to belong to the different associations in order to see their respective lists.

[S T]

Doesn't Matter

What difference does it make why he wants the list?

Probably as an attorney to solicit a particular group of "Professionals" for a service or referral for service that he or his firm offers.

I receive solicitations from Attorneys all the time as specialists in Bankruptcy, Estate, etc. Obviously they obtained my name somewhere, from some list.

Much the same as HRB buying the practice, Insurance Agents, software vendors for Tax and Accounting soliciting your business, etc.

Sandy

[erchess]

Opa

The IRS Office of Professional Responsibility will share the contact info of Circular 230 Professionals sorted however the requester wishes. The requester can be someone who is marketing a product or service only tax pros would use or someone looking to hire a tax pro. Why do you think we get so much junk mail electronic and otherwise?

[rjholmes]

Thank you all

He is not wanting a list of EA's. He is just wondering about the credentials of a certain preparer who seems to be giving erroneous advise, and since the business card does not specify EA or CPA, he was curious as to whether there was a listing.

[BOB W]

Anyone that is an EA or CPA would be proud of their designation and would display such. The preparer that he is looking at is neither, just an unenrolled uneducated know-it-all that should be busted.

[Roberts]

He is not wanting a list of EA's. He is just wondering about the credentials of a certain preparer who seems to be giving erroneous advise, and since the business card does not specify EA or CPA, he was curious as to whether there was a listing.

As was stated, there is a list and it isn't overly difficult to be attained.

JMO but if I really wanted to know, I'd call his office and ask he (or the secretary if one answers) what the credential and experience are that he has achieved. You don't have to be overly blunt or give out the true purpose of the call. I've had people ask me that in the past, I don't think it's an unreasonable request. Many professionals have some sort of Curriculum Vitae that they include with their material soliciting new business.

[taxea]

ST says "What difference does it make why he wants the list?"

It would help in order to give a more specific answer to the question.
I also agree with any EA or CPA would advertise the credential.
And just call and pose as a taxpayer curious about his background qualifications.

[Black Bart]

I don't know, Bob

Originally Posted by rjholmes
He is not wanting a list of EA's. He is just wondering about the credentials of a certain preparer who seems to be giving erroneous advise, and since the business card does not specify EA or CPA, he was curious as to whether there was a listing.

Anyone that is an EA or CPA would be proud of their designation and would display such. The preparer that he is looking at is neither, just an unenrolled uneducated know-it-all that should be busted.

it seems to me like it's too broad a generalization to draw such a conclusion from the limited facts rjholmes presents. I was an unenrolled preparer until not too long ago ("uneducated know-it-all" would depend on who you talk to) and didn't have any credentials to display either, but I still felt like I was a fair hand at tax preparation. As Bees said in a recent post "...I don't care what your credentials are, I only care about correct answers, and I have learned from experience that being an EA or a CPA does not guarantee a correct answer." I've met a dopey EA/CPA or two in my time -- you?

And clients questioning our advice doesn't mean much -- it's usually because we won't take doubtful/illegal deductions. One quit me because I wouldn't expense the principal of his building note payment in addition to the interest. He told me (and others) that I gave him "bad tax advice" and found another preparer who "suited" him and who also, I assume, may have written off the full payment in addition to depreciating the building.

I agree that having the credentials probably reduces the risks, but they're no guarantee of accuracy either. We've got many unenrolled preparers right here on this board and it's easy to tell simply by reading their posts that some of them are pretty smart cookies, certificates or not.

[Lion]

Actions

Your lawyer friend might want to check out

OPR List of IRB Disciplinary Actions

e-file Providers | Enrolled Actuaries | Enrolled Agents ... This Internal Revenue Bulletin (IRB) List provides the announcement issue numbers, dates, ...

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/taxpros/agents/article/0,,id=131857,00.html

[luke]

no list

Our State Acctg Assoc has been trying to get a list of EAs in our state for almost a year with NO luck....
let me know IF someone here gets a list Thanks

[ChEAr$]

About ten years ago when I was membership chairman in Alabama society, I did obtain a
list of all Ea''s in AL, MS and LA from the (then) New Orleans district headquarters.

But maybe four years later when i tried to obtain a list of just AL Ea's from national office
(OPR) the list was considerably shorter of AL Ea's, because by then OPR had put into place the practice of releasing only data on Ea's who had not checked the "not for publication" box on the renewal form.