How to Find a Reliable Professional to Help You Navigate Tax Problems
If you're having tax issues, finding a tax professional you can trust is vital. There is a wide array of people out there who may claim to be able to help. However, it's important to find someone who has the proper training, contacts, and experience to truly help you resolve your tax situation. Whether you need to deal with a tax penalty or you need to appeal an IRS action, having a knowledgeable, competent, and certified tax professional on your side can make all the difference in the outcome of your tax issues.
The most important thing to look for when you are considering which tax expert to hire is their training and certification. EA stands for enrolled agent. This is a certification given by the IRS to tax professionals who have taken and passed a comprehensive, three-part IRS exam that covers both individual and business tax returns.
On top of this examination, EAs are also required to abide by certain ethical standards and must complete 72 hours of continuing education courses every three years. As tax pros, EAs have unlimited practice rights before the IRS, meaning that they can represent a client for any reason before that government body.
For clients, all of this means that EAs have a huge amount of knowledge at their disposal, that they are up to date on tax code changes and other professional development information, and that they have made a public commitment to providing excellent tax service. It also means that an EA can provide tax help practically no matter what type of tax assistance your situation ends up requiring.
Another thing to look for in addition to EA status is membership in tax preparer organizations. One, the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), is, clearly, related to EA membership. NAEA provides various continuing education opportunities for EAs and serves as a hub for information exchange and industry communication.
Another group, the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS), is geared primarily toward taxpayer services. ASTPS is a nonprofit organization that specifically trains tax professionals to represent clients before the IRS and to perform tax resolution services for people who are struggling with back taxes, tax liens, or other tax problems.
If you have back taxproblems or if you are in need of tax relief, don't trust your financial security to just anyone. Find a tax professional who is an enrolled agent, and who is also a member of the NAEA, the ASTPS, or both.