Content
If you’re a tax professional or want to learn more about a career as an enrolled agent, NAEA is for you. You’ll join a thriving community of nearly 8,000 members—or if you’re an organization, you can gain access to this dynamic, engaged audience as an NAEA strategic partner.
The average salary of an enrolled agent, according toPayscale, is about $66K per year. Of course, if you’ve passed the right prep course and gained the right credentials, you can make even more per year. The faster and more common way to become an enrolled agent is to take the enrolled agent exam or EA exam.
Exam Tip
For fear that exam candidates would lose this email, Prometric allows you to request a duplicate confirmation. To do so, you just have to log back into your Prometric IRS account. At that point, you can see how to get the information you need in the dashboard. Pay the testing fee ($181.94 per exam part) by credit card. Or, pay with an electronic check if desired by scheduling over the phone. The Enrolled Agent exam has no education or experience requirements. Consequently, the only thing you need to register for the EA exam is a Preparer Tax Identification Number .
Prescriptions and bottled water may not be brought into the testing room but can be kept in the test center locker for access if needed. You are allowed to take additional unscheduled breaks; however, the exam clock will continue to count down during any unscheduled break. Prometric test centers and staff will comply with local, state and federal regulations and guidelines to safeguard the health and well-being of test takers and staff.
How Do I Prepare For The Examination? Are There Any Study Materials? Updated 10
Plus, just a few keystrokes tell you what you need to study that day, so you can make the most of your time. This level of expertise makes you a valuable asset to employers and clients.
Once you know for certain that you want to become an enrolled agent, you must select your path. The benefits of the EA designation may be enough to convince you to embark on the EA journey. But before you do, take the time to analyze the pros and cons of the EA to those of other professional qualifications.
However, the most common path to this designation is by taking the Enrolled Agent exam . When you want to become an enrolled agent, there are two paths to consider. The first path requires working for the IRS for five years and passing a background check. This path will take many years, and you will have to gain employment at the IRS. According to theIRS website, an enrolled agent is someone who has earned the privilege of representing the United States taxpayers. As an enrolled agent, you will have unlimited practice rights, much like a certified public accountant and an attorney. This means, as an enrolled agent, you can represent any taxpayer you prefer in any tax matter.
The Definitive Guide To Becoming An Enrolled Agent
EAs are granted unlimited rights to represent any taxpayer for any tax matter before any IRS office. The IRS Special Enrollment Exam is the easiest of the exams that give you unlimited representation rights to practice before the IRS. The other two are the CPA exam and the Bar exam, both of which have significant educational requirements https://www.bookstime.com/ which must be met before you can sit for the test. An enrolled agent, to be considered a tax expert, must “demonstrate a special competence in tax matters” by passing three separate exams to become an enrolled agent. Difficulty depends on experience, but the credential is attainable for those willing to put in the effort.
If for any reason you are unsatisfied, you may request a full refund of any items purchased directly from us within 30-days of the date of initial purchase. Sign up to receive updates, study tips, and special offers from Fast Forward Academy. With our built-in creator, you can takes notes and create customized Enrolled Agent exam flashcards for review. There is a $203 fee per part paid at the time of appointment scheduling. I’ll break down each Enrolled Agent exam cost and also reveal how you can save money on the EA. Receive your confirmation number confirming your appointment.
- Applicants do not need to hold a particular degree or meet experience requirements.
- According to theIRS website, an enrolled agent is someone who has earned the privilege of representing the United States taxpayers.
- Upon passing the EA exam and earning the EA credential, Enrolled Agents are granted unlimited practice rights to represent any taxpayer before the IRS.
- The CPA is a more well-known certification that also offers increased job opportunities, income, and incentives.
- Upon completion of the examination, a pass/fail message will appear on your computer screen.
- This way you aren’t going over topics that you already understand a million times.
Your exact plan will likely differ based on your goals and commitments. In addition to your IRS requirements, you will also want to maintain your professional status. Stay familiar with IRS collections, appeals, and audit processes.
Enrolled Agent Exam Questions
If you have a deadline to become an Enrolled Agent , you need to look at your schedule to determine how many hours per week you will need to study to meet this deadline. If you only have a certain number of hours each day available to study, you should set test dates that give you enough time to hit your hours targets . While you’ll likely have both a limited number of hours to study and a deadline, one is almost always more important.
However, if you have to reschedule within 30 days of the exam, you will pay an additional $35 to reschedule. Surgent EA Review also offers more than 85 video lectures and excellent customer service. They do provide financing and a pass or your money-back guarantee, too.
The IRS will conduct the background check on your behalf as soon as you submit Form 23. Additionally, 3 of the 5 qualifying years of IRS experience must have taken place within the last 5 years, prior to your separation from the IRS. If you’ve worked for the IRS before, you may be able to skip the exam and still earn your EA license.
That being said, I would recommend this as a supplemental enrolled agent study guide and not an actual exam prep course. It’s great to use for extra practice questions, but it’s not enough for a full guide.
Forms & Instructions
Follow the prompts to choose your exam part, testing location, and appointment date. Search for the testing center nearest you by entering your zip/postal code or your address and city. The IRS has appointed Prometric to administer the Enrolled Agent exam.
Knowing the EA exam dates also enables you to fit the studying and testing process into your life. The best way to ensure success is to create an exam study schedule to keep you on track. Your detailed schedule should outline the topics and the amount of time you should be studying for each topic that is tested on the exam. Simply or to the IRS website, click on “Renew or Sign-up now” register for your PTIN, and pay your fee.
While this isn’t inexpensive, the Enrolled Agent certification is much more accessible than other accounting certifications, such as the CPA or CMA. This page breaks down each of the EA fees you need to pay and offers a few tips on how you can save money. Once I sat down to take the test I would brain dump everything I could recall in a few minutes onto the provided scrap paper. Ironically, I rarely needed to refer to the paper as the process of creating the notes helped me retain it. We publish a parking lot review for students to bring to the testing center, but writing your own notes definitely helps you retain the information better.
During this time the test is updated with the most recent tax law. Each exam part may be taken 4 times per testing window, which runs from May 1 to the end of February. In general, any overdue tax return that has not been filed or any unpaid taxes unless acceptable payment arrangements enrolled agent exam have been established. An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service. At this point, you can either check the availability of your preferred testing center or call the testing center to set up your appointment.
How Can I Get A Copy Of My Score Report?
Your EA course will also provide you with enrolled agent exam sample questions. Additionally, all our favorite EA review courses include unlimited enrolled agent practice exams. If you want a good enrolled agent exam prep course with more than 3,500 practice questions, this is the right option for you. Fast Forward Academy EA offers unlimited course access with pricing from $549 to $699. These bundles give you more than 10 hours of expert video instruction and financing if you need it.
With as few as 30 hours of study, you can be ready to take your first exam section in as little as two weeks! In short, Surgent EA Review will get you exam-ready, much faster. All 3 sections of the EA exam have pass rates higher than 50%, which is above average for accounting certification exams. On the EA exam, candidates have 3.5 hours to answer 100 MCQs.
What Does The Special Enrollment Exam Cover?
But they also found that the EA exam questions were more straightforward. REG, on the other hand, has trickier multiple-choice questions and the dreaded task-based simulations , which are case study-like questions. As the average Enrolled Agent exam pass rate is 71%, many people find the EA exam to be easier than the CPA Exam or CMA exam. However, I have taken specific steps so I can provide an objective analysis. As a result, I can help you prepare effectively for the EA exam. Divide the total number of hours you need to study by the hours per week you can study. If you have weeks where three or more days are not available for studying, count them as half-weeks.
However, the CPA Exam has moved to continuous testing. So now, the CPA Exam test days are any days the Prometric testing center is open and the CPA Exam blackout dates are a thing of the past. Consequently, since EA and CPA candidates alike take their exams at a Prometric site, plan ahead when scheduling your Enrolled Agent test dates. After all, you’ll be competing for seats with other exam-takers.
All Surgent EA Review courses are 100% aligned with the SEE content outlines. Understanding what you’ll be getting into with the enrolled agent exam can help you properly prepare for the exam. When you’re ready to take the EA exam, you want to make sure you can pass it on the first try. With the right EA exam prep course, you can make sure you’re ready for the exam. There are several options online you can use to get fully prepared for the exam. When you want to become an enrolled agent, you don’t want to delay the process.