I've got no people

[Jesse]

I'm crushed!

I'm in my office returning phone calls as my day begins.........New client wants to make an appointment they normally go to HRB but heard great things about my services. I'm flattered.

I get them set up and as the converstation ends - you are a CPA aren't you? No I'm an EA - I can represent before the IRS but I am not a CPA. "Oh, I'll have to think about this and call you back - I may have to keep my appt w/ HRB" is what they tell me.

Nothing against HRB, but I know for a fact our local office does not have an EA or a CPA in the office that prepares the tax returns- but I guess they've got people!

Oh well!

[BOB W]

When the question comes up I tell them my license is through the Federal government so I can do tax returns throughout the country, a CPA is only licensed in our state. And the their specialty is Financial issues and mine is tax law.

Most except that and we continue on.

[FEDUKE404]

Where oh where is that CPA?

And this person expects Block to be staffed with CPAs???

I do have a frequently-used statement along the lines of "Some of the worst tax returns I've ever seen (= had to repair) were done by CPA's."

My back-up statement, along a similar line, refers to those who get certain tax software at their friendly office-supply store. ("I just skipped that question because I did not quite understand it.")

No, I'm not picking on CPAs but it is a fact that many of their tax returns are prepared "in the back room" by just about everybody but the CPA, who does receive the big bucks by signing his/her name on the final tax return.

But thanks for the laugh - maybe you should have told the client that CPA files are not privileged information and then really watch for squirming!!

FE

[Bees Knees]

I get them set up and as the converstation ends - you are a CPA aren't you? No I'm an EA - I can represent before the IRS but I am not a CPA. "Oh, I'll have to think about this and call you back - I may have to keep my appt w/ HRB" is what they tell me.

You put yourself down when you say “I am NOT….” All the customer hears is you are not something they thought you were.

Instead, you should have said: “I am an Enrolled Agent. I am licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department to represent taxpayers before the IRS.”

Then remain silent about CPAs and whether or not you are one. Let the customer ask you what the difference is between an EA and a CPA. If they do ask, you explain a CPA is licensed by the state and your license comes from the federal government. If they don’t ask, you say nothing about the difference. Don’t try to say whether one is better than the other. Never put yourself above or below a CPA as that kind of talk will turn off the general public.

[thomtax]

But thanks for the laugh -
FE

Unfortunately, this is more frustrating to me than funny. I think the only thing that will help is if the EAs in the area could get together and run informational advertising about EAs. The problem seems to be that many of the EAs are not interested and do not want to spend the money. I understand the expense idea, but, unfortunately everything comes with a cost.

LT

[Bees Knees]

I do have a frequently-used statement along the lines of "Some of the worst tax returns I've ever seen (= had to repair) were done by CPA's."

I've seen some horrible stuff come from EAs as well.

This is not the forum to argue who is better. You are not doing us EAs any favors by bashing CPAs.

[fliszt]

Bees,

I fully agree with your comments. Thomtax, I also agree with you. When I received my EA licensee, not ONE of my clients knew, or had heard of an EA . I too think there should be MUCH more advertising to inform the public about EA's. I would have thought that NAEA would be the one to advertise. But on the other hand, how much money could be generated if each one of us contributed $x into a fund for national advertising?

[Jesse]

I've seen some horrible stuff come from EAs as well.

This is not the forum to argue who is better. You are not doing us EAs any favors by bashing CPAs.

EXACTLY - I actually do the tax returns for two CPA's - that does not make me wiser than they are nor are they more wiser than I - just different areas of knowledge in the business world. You can work for yourself, a CPA or work at HRB, JH, LTS or any chain and be very knowledgable or not knowledgable at all- a title does not guarantee great work.

I take pride in my work, I do absolutely no advertising yet my business flourishes by referrals. I always take more than the required Cont Education classes, not because I need the credits but because I want to learn. I have grown so much w/ the help of this board.

Even though I don't have people I am confident I am a competent and capable income tax preparer and this will be her loss!

I should clarify that although "I've got no people" I do have plenty of satisfied clients and if they have questions they have more than a box to ask!!

[Snaggletoof]

Professional Groups

For a return with any measure of complexity, the ONLY three groups of preparers which can be relied upon with assurance are:

**CPAs
**EAs
**Attorneys who specialize in taxes

and not necessarily in that order. There are good tax preparers scattered in other circles, but these are the only three reliable groups with whom I have comfort.

The worst returns to clean up are, ironically, those prepared by someone with just enough knowledge to delude themselves into believing taxes can be made simple for them. In particular, this includes attorneys (other than those described above), engineers, and TurboTax people. The returns prepared by less confident people are easy to fix.

[Bees Knees]

Even though I don't have people I am confident I am a competent and capable income tax preparer and this will be her loss!

Ahhhh... but you DO have people. You have the TMI Message Board team.

When you have your taxes done by an official TMI message board member, you've got Real People!

We should make up buttons to hand out to clients. "I've got Real People!"

[Jesse]

Ahhhh... but you DO have people. You have the TMI Message Board team.

When you have your taxes done by an official TMI message board member, you've got Real People!

We should make up buttons to hand out to clients. "I've got Real People!"

I like it - Bravo!!!

[jeff501]

I used to work for a CPA and did most of his clients' returns while he did his usual work which did not include actually doing the returns. This CPA didn't work more than 35 hours a week even in tax season. Most returns weren't that bad to prepare and he signed them and collected the fee ($$$$$$$), while I got my hourly rate. The good side was I learned a lot about entity returns and now can apply that knowledge in my own practice.

Explaining what an EA is seems to be a universal problem. I've even been asked which insurance company I represent??? Something about the word "agent" being associated with insurance agent.

I've fixed a few CPA prepared returns that had things missed by nothing more than laziness on their part (not taking the retirement credit when eligible, auto excise fees on schedule A when filing long form, credit for other state taxes paid on multiple state returns, etc.). I love the Turbo Tax type returns people bring in, too. Even had a self prepared return brought in where the guy took his SS and Medicare off as taxes paid in. The IRS sent a nice note about that one and he had me correct it for him. He's been a client ever since.

Someone earlier mentioned the NAEA. Is this an organization that is worth the annual fee? I don't mean this to read the NAEA is not a good organization, but do you get that much out of it?

[erchess]

You're taking too much license

[QUOTE=Bees Knees;54183]
Instead, you should have said: “I am an Enrolled Agent. I am licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department to represent taxpayers before the IRS.”

when you use the word "license" or any derivative to describe EAs. The wording is "Enrolled To Practice Before the IRS". That is a change the CPA Lobby won since I was first Enrolled.

[oceanlovin'ea]

Local IRS office

I had a new client call me last week and he came in this week. He had gone to the local IRS office to get a stimulus return prepared and they couldn't do it because he had stock sale on his 1099 from investment company.
He hasn't had to file for years.
The person that helped him went to the NAEA website and printed off the name and address of 2 local EA's and gave him Mapquest directions to both. I saw the printout when he came in.
So IRS isn't sending people to HRB....they are sending them to EA's.

HRB is doing mass mailings about the stimulus payments. One old client that hasn't had to file for years came in today. She had a flyer from HRB. She took some of my cards and said she would give them to some people in the retirement park they live in.

Linda F

[Bees Knees]

[QUOTE=erchess;54251]

Instead, you should have said: “I am an Enrolled Agent. I am licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department to represent taxpayers before the IRS.”

when you use the word "license" or any derivative to describe EAs. The wording is "Enrolled To Practice Before the IRS". That is a change the CPA Lobby won since I was first Enrolled.

Tell it to NAEA.

According to their website http://www.naea.org/memberportal/Res.../whatis_EA.htm I am "licensed" by the federal government.

What is an Enrolled Agent?
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals.

What does the term “Enrolled Agent” mean?

“Enrolled” means to be licensed to practice by the federal government, and “Agent” means authorized to appear in the place of the taxpayer at the IRS. Only Enrolled Agents, attorneys, and CPAs may represent taxpayers before the IRS. The Enrolled Agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who represented citizens in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department.