Monday, 3 August 2015

A Better Understanding Of The Enrolled Agent Exam

By Eula Clarke


The Internal Revenue Service is designated by the Treasury Department to collect taxes and process tax returns every year. This bureau is managed by the Commissioner. Its purpose is to execute the Internal Revenue Code.

Civilians have advocates called enrolled agents to deal with situations where claims against the government need to be created. They have to take the enrolled agent exam to become tax practitioners and be given the authority by the Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Attorneys and certified public accountants are also given the power to advocate for the them, but are licensed on a state by state basis.

The right of agents to practice before the IRS is being standardized by the Federal statute. Applicants must pass the exam to be able to have the authority to fully represent taxpayers with their claims. They will be regarded as FATPs or Federally Authorized Tax Practitioners. Aside from enrolled agents, other candidates who can gain this status are attorneys and CPAs or Certified Public Accountants.

All these practitioners represent their clients on cases involving audits, collection actions, payment concerns, refund issues, and appeals. Should they be willing to undertake such enormous challenges, these candidates must obtain a PTIN, or the Preparer Tax Identification Number. This allows them to legally prepare federal tax returns or claims for refund.

All of the sections of the Special Enrollment Examination or SEE must be fulfilled. The SEE questions are taken mostly from the taxation codes. Applicants can either pass the exam, or work for the bureau for five years nonstop. They should be focused on applying and interpreting the revenue code and the rules on estate, income, employment, or gift taxes. However, if they fail the test, they can retake the exam or part of the test four times in any testing year.

If they pass the exam, a completed Form 23 must then be submitted within one year. A background investigation will be conducted once they receive this form. The personal background of the applicant as well as his or her business compliance on tax payments would also be reviewed.

Applicants can remain active by renewing every three years. This is considered as their enrollment cycle. A total of 72 hours worth of continuing education requirements is required every three years. Every year, there must be at least 16 hours of continuing professional education, in which two hours must be on ethics.

Agents can renew every three years based on the last digit of SSN. Simply view Circular 230 Section 10.6d for the specific cycle. They can renew online at Pay.gov, just put 8554 in the search box, or renew on paper using Form 8554.

If the applicant is unable to submit the requirements needed for renewal promptly, they will be placed under the inactive agents list. They must also give immediate response to a noncompliance notification or fulfill all the necessary requirements to avoid being included in the roster of inactive individuals. They have to renew their statuses in order to be enrolled agents, to use the EA designation, and represent taxpayers legally.




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