Swaim & Associates

Comprehensive Assistance From Professional Tax Professionals

Swaim & Associates

Comprehensive Assistance From Professional Tax Professionals

How Our Enrolled Agents Can Help North Carolina Residents

When you are trying to prepare your taxes on your own or do your federal and state taxes online, whether they are business taxes or income taxes, a single mistake in any of your tax forms can leave you with considerable tax liability issues. Get the tax assistance you need from the local tax consultants at Swaim & Associates.

When you come to our Greensboro, NC office, you can meet a tax accountant with the skill and knowledge necessary to help you with your tax return preparation so that you are in compliance with the tax law. We want you to avoid any penalties for violating IRS tax regulations. Whether you are looking for tax tips to maximize your tax refund, or you need a tax pro who is fluent in tax law to represent you in an IRS audit, tax compliance, or other tax issues, our Enrolled Agents are the tax experts you are looking for. 

What is an Enrolled Agent?

An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax practitioner licensed by the United States Treasury Department to represent taxpayers in affairs with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The United States Department of Treasury empowers EAs to represent taxpayers for any audits, appeals, or collections. Enrolled agents are licensed to prepare tax returns, and advise and represent individuals, estates, corporations, partnerships, and trusts. EAs are experts who keep up with the ever-changing area of tax laws. Enrolled Agents are therefore effectively able to represent persons who are audited by the IRS. EAs are required to show they are competent in tax practice before they can represent a taxpayer before the IRS. EAs receive their license from the U.S. Treasury Department while Certified Public Accountants and attorneys are usually licensed by the state in which they reside.

Enrolled agents, like an attorney or certified public accountants (CPA), have unlimited practice rights. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before.

To earn an EA designation, they have to either be a former IRS employee (minimum 5 years experience) or pass a comprehensive 2-day exam administered by the IRS. Then, there are continuing education requirements similar to those of CPAs.

An EA is authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to offer services such as:

  • Represent taxpayers before the IRS for audits, collections, and appeals
  • Advise and represent taxpayers
  • Prepare tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts, and any entities with tax-reporting requirements

In addition to an IRS-administered testing and application process, enrolled agents must complete at least 72 hours of continuing education every three years. The IRS does not require attorneys and certified public accountants to complete continuing education, but some state licensing offices have added additional requirements.

Overcome Your Tax Problems With Our Tax Advisors

From the small business owner looking for answers to their tax questions about their business income to someone looking for professional tax preparation services for a tax-fraud investigation, our tax advisors can help with your tax challenges. Whether you need someone to help you file taxes instead of relying on professional tax software or other online tax preparation services, or you need help with tax-planning and bookkeeping consult a tax advisor at our Greensboro, North Carolina office today for the tax consulting and tax solutions you deserve.