Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Enrolled Agent?
Enrolled agents (EAs) are federally-authorized tax practitioners who have demonstrated technical competence in tax law and are the only taxpayer representatives licensed to practice by the United States government. Only EAs, attorneys and CPAs may represent taxpayers without limitation before the IRS. EAs advise and represent taxpayers who are being examined by IRS, taxpayers who are unable to pay, and taxpayers who wish to avoid or recover penalties. EAs also prepare tax returns for individuals and businesses. Unlike attorneys and CPAs, who may or may not choose to specialize in taxes, all EAs specialize in taxation and are required by the federal government to maintain their professional skills with continuing professional education.
How can I know which accountant is right for me?
Does your accountant return your calls? Do you feel comfortable asking them a question? Do you feel heard? With the right accountant, the answers should be a resounding "Yes!"
How much are your fees?
Fees vary by complexity and amount of work required.
My tax return is simple; do I need a tax professional ?
If your tax situation is simple and does not change from year to year, then you can probably prepare your own return with little issue. However if your tax situation has changed or you have something new from prior years, you might wind up spending hours searching the internet for answers. An experienced tax professional has likely seen your issue before and can help you avoid all the wasted time and frustration of trying to do it yourself.
What other benefits are there when using a tax professional ?
A good tax professional get to know each client and their tax situation. This relationship allows them to guide the client through major life changes (marriage, children, college, job changes, retirement, etc.) as well as to plan and respond to tax law changes. The tax professional can also work on the client's behalf to respond to tax notices or problems with taxing authorities.
How can I know you stay updated on tax laws?
As an Enrolled Agent and also a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, I am required to complete at least 30 hours of continuing education each year. The focus of this education includes tax law changes, ethics, and other in-depth classes on a variety of tax issues.
Do you have a way to securely share files?
Yes. We use a service called Verifyle. This enables us to not only share files securely with clients, but it also enables us to send securly encrypted messages. Verifyle has six levels of encryption to ensure messages and files remain secure and private. Please contact us if you would like to set up a Verifyle account.
What about you outside of work?
I have been married to my wonderful wife Toni for more than 25 years. She is a Business teacher at Huntingdon Area High School. We have two great kids - Adam and Lauren. Our family also includes two cats named Isabella and Maisey. In my free time, I enjoy cycling, the outdoors, and spending time with my family.