Tuesday, 14 July 2015

A Practical Guide On The Enrolled Agent Exam

By Eula Clarke


The Department of the Treasury has a bureau responsible for collecting taxes and processing tax returns annually. This is the IRS or Internal Revenue Service and is under the direction of the Commissioner of IRS. This bureau also administers the Internal Revenue Code.

In cases where people file claims due to errors or for any other reason, there are advocates like enrolled agents to assist them in such matters. These advocates need to pass the enrolled agent exam so they can legally represent the clients. There is no educational or experience prerequisite, just their advanced knowledge on these codes and issues.

The Federal statute regulates the right to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Once they pass the exam and be authorized to practice, he or she will be considered as FATP or Federally Authorized Tax Practitioners. This status is given to attorneys, certified public accountants, and enrolled agents.

Practitioners can vouch for clients on refund concerns, appeals, payment issues, collection procedures, and audits. They must first get a Preparer Tax Identification Number, or PTIN. The PTIN is needed so they can be allowed to setup federal tax returns and claims for refund.

Candidates must pass all three parts of the Special Enrollment Examination. This covers a lot of areas of the Internal Revenue Code. Or they could at least work at the IRS for five consecutive years in a position which is regularly focused on the application and interpretation of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the rules regarding estate, income, employment, gift, or exercise taxes. Should the applicant fail the exam by getting a score of 104 or less, each part may be taken up to four times in any testing year.

Once the applicant successfully pass the test, within one year they must submit Form 23. After this, a background check will begin. This investigation will include the personal credentials of the applicant and the business compliance in relation to tax payments.

Agents can maintain their active status by renewing after their first enrollment cycle that is three years before the date of its renewal. They must also finish 72 hours of continuing education requirements every three years. Agents must also obtain at least sixteen hours for every year, in which two hours must be on ethics.

Applicants for renewal will know their specific cycle by referring to the last number of their SSN. They can search for it in Circular 230 Section 10.6d. Agents can also process the renewal online via Pay.gov. They can type 8554 in the search area, or they can also do this in paper form by submitting Form 8554.

If the individual fails to accomplish a timely application for renewal, then he or she will be part of a list of inactive enrolled individuals. Other reasons include not giving a prompt response to the notice of noncompliance and being unable to complete the requirements of eligibility for renewal. During this time, they are not allowed to represent taxpayers, use the term enrolled agent, or use the EA designation.




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