Costs of the New Tax Preparers Requirements

[MAJ]

So, with the costs of registering (IRS, NY, etc) as well as the continuing education courses have many/any of you raised your rates this year (more than usual)?

Even $5 towards the added costs will defray the additonal outlays I suppose...

I think I'm going to push for the EA this fall.. Sounds like the right direction to go...
Anyone else headed down this path??

[rgtaxservice]

In the same boat

I'm going to take the EA exam this year as well. Hell, if I have to take an exam anyway it might as well be for an EA. It will work well for marketing my wares too.

An EA will float above a sea of registered tax preparers as a tax practitioner authorized to practice before the IRS.

[MAJ]

ahh... to float.. always wanted to do that...

An EA will float above a sea of registered tax preparers as a tax practitioner authorized to practice before the IRS.

Nice.. I like that - I agree it will absolutely help in many ways. I feel the same way..
However, In the end, the client's are looking for the $$ factor too. Even more so with the economy being tough. Some of my long time clients have hit it rough. I know that - I've put them on a sliding scale. Karma can be a ***** if you're not nice in some ways...

It's not only the end job, it's the service and respect provided. I provide a personal touch and I am using technology in different ways to keep in touch with my clients. TXT messaging has been a great help for many of my clients. Quick questions (from them or to them) and quick answers are great for on the fly questions. My office is detached from my house and I have a comfy 600 square foot office with a living room and TV where my clients can either wait or usually their children can wait and be occupied with either TV or a game. Clients feel comfortable and my client list grows annually strictly by referrals.

We had a nice poolside summer barbeque for a number of my clients.. Nah, didn't bother to write it off! Not worth the $100 ROI.. Keeps me in touch and we have a good time.

[Jesse]

Unless something is changed it sounds as if EA's will get shorted in this process too.

It is my understanding that the IRS will have a list of "registered preparers" of which EA's and CPA's won't be on because they are not a "registered preparer" but they are an "enrolled agent" or a "certified Public accountant" which are registered with the IRS but not the same as a registered preparer.

[MAJ]

List of Registered Preparers.

Unless something is changed it sounds as if EA's will get shorted in this process too.

They used to have a list of preparers and when the registration process was announced it disappeared. But I do believe the EA's and CPA's should be listed there as well with their credentials spelled out. It's only fair.

I'm sure they'll be listed too... Why wouldn't they?? We all still need to be registered!

[NotEasy]

I'm going to take the EA exam this year as well. Hell, if I have to take an exam anyway it might as well be for an EA. It will work well for marketing my wares too.

An EA will float above a sea of registered tax preparers as a tax practitioner authorized to practice before the IRS.

What's the cost of becoming an EA and the renewal fee every year?

[taxxcpa]

Fee increases

Sometimes credential can make people think you are too expensive. I used to get a lot more bookkeeping jobs when I was not a CPA.

The other day, I got a call from someone who found me on the IRS list of authorized e-filers. He said he had previously used HRB but wanted to switch to a CPA--so sometimes the credentials pay off.

[Jiggers]

We are Professionals

No matter what your designation, we are Professionals.

We need to bill our services as such.

I am an EA, but I bill higher rates that our local CPA's.

This year all 1040 clients are raised 3% over prior year plus $11.00.