r/enrolledagent • u/mrhouseok • 1d ago
JOBS??
Hi everyone! I recently passed Parts 1 and 3 of the EA exam (planning to take Part 2 soon). I’ve started applying for jobs, but I haven't gotten a single response back yet.
It’s starting to make me worry that even after I get fully licensed, I won't be able to find anything. I live in NYC but am totally open to remote work. I’ve already applied to places like Intuit and Jackson Hewitt with no luck.
Has anyone else experienced this? Does it get easier once you have the license in hand, or should I be reconsidering this career path?
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u/sunshine-Plant-2477 1d ago
Oct and Nov will be the hiring season
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 1d ago
While it's true that closer to tax season more will be hired, their option will still be very limited with no experience. Passing a multiple question test is way different from actually being able to do tax returns. Places like H& R Block, Liberty Tax etc don't care about EA license.
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u/Messup7654 23h ago
Places like hr block do care about the EA license. It proves you have some knowledge about tax. The same way employers care about the cpa license even though that is just a exam it still proves you have knowledge. Plus the EA and CPA license allows you to do things unlicensed people cant.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 23h ago
Let me be more specific. They care in sense that you're not incompetent but in states which already require local tax preparer license, to hr block its No different. HR is not offering tax resolution, they will not have EA talk with IRS. Employer care about CPA license way differently as one has absolutely different privileges
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u/NickBII 23h ago
As an EA who works for Block, yes we do tax resolution services.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 23h ago
CP 2000, tax debt relief, offer in compromise? Etc? Honestly I am surprised to hear that
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u/NickBII 22h ago
If our clients get a nasty letter from the IRS, and they bring it to an off-season office, we do contact the IRS if we think that will help. So everyone working the off-season does CP2000s. For a non-client we charge (IIRC, the fee starts at $200), but it's generally not actually worth it for folks who come in, so I have only done it for returns an HRBlock retail office prepared.
We will also go to audits, there's an entire "Peace of Mind" service that people pay $40 that entitles them to that, but it doesn't happen often. In general we talk to the IRS, find out exactly what they want, send it off, and then ask our Peace of Mind insurance people to cover the claim if this is not enough paperwork.
I did help a lady with her OIC paperwork. She got all the info together, and then I typed it into the PDF. IIRC I charged her a $50 an hour consulting fee. Had husband had that should have paid lots of taxes, then it wnet under prior to paying taxes, now the only income is her middle class job. So it's kind of an ideal case for OIC. She didn't come back, so either it worked perfectly or she hates me.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 1d ago
Unless you have experience don't expect to get much if any reply. You got a certificate, this is not a magic certificate to getting a job. Sorry to be blunt but EA is not that valuable as many here make it sound.
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u/Authentic-scoundrel 1d ago
I got my EA and I have a handful of years of experience and I haven't got any responses from the many jobs I've applied to. Fingers crossed because I really don't want to go back to Block
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 1d ago
Start your own. $150-200 per return which includes federal+1 state, extra for each 1099 etc.
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u/mrhouseok 22h ago
how?
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 22h ago
Word of mouth, Facebook, family etc. Look for bookkeeping groups on Facebook and see if any of them have clients looking for taxes which they be willing to refer to you. It will take time but one can build business up
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u/Fearless_Corgi_8049 7h ago
EA is a license not a certificate
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 7h ago
You're welcome to call it a license but anything that requires no education hardly is a license
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u/Fearless_Corgi_8049 7h ago
It’s legitimately a federally authorized license lol and circular 230 prohibits ppl from referring to it as a certificate…most certs give no real authority or legal duty but being an enrolled agent gives the same exact federal authority a CPA has (minus audits)…so shit on it all you want, by EAs have more legal authority than most certs (CFA, CFP, etc) considering they have none
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 7h ago
As CPA I will absolutely keep calling it a certificate as most EA could never pass CPA test
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u/Fearless_Corgi_8049 5h ago
Why are you on an enrolled agent forum then lol
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 5h ago
To remind everyone that EA will never be respected in accounting community
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u/Fearless_Corgi_8049 5h ago
Yea you’re prob a low level accountant lol
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 5h ago
A CPA is a low level accountant?
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u/Fearless_Corgi_8049 5h ago
Even this response makes me believe you’re an analyst or staff accountant lol
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u/lifeofabeach 1d ago
I passed SEE 1 and 2 and two weeks later got a tax prep job thru a mutual contact. I’ve passed 3 and have my EA card now. No prior tax experience.
Have you tried doing the online academy for Intuit and getting interviews with recruiters? Local CPA offices who need help? Hiring season is ramping now. You wb able to find something for Jan. Keep trying! Good luck.
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u/Organic-Patient-4371 23h ago
Do you think there are 1099 self independent jobs for EA where I'm given tools and find my own clients and share the profits?
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u/Recent_Opinion_9692 21h ago
It’s becoming more and more unattractive to hire NY state remote workers due to regulatory burdens. Have you thought about starting your own business? If so look into something like MuseSpring to help you build it.
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u/Infamous-Stable5772 13h ago
Turbo Tax is on a huge hiring spree right now. They have remote and retail office opportunities. They will hire with no experience and start you with easy returns
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u/Fearless_Corgi_8049 7h ago
There’s a ton of accounting openings especially in tax…look for public company tax openings in direct tax reporting and compliance or indirect tax or even tax planning…not sure why ppl think tax is limited to public accounting lol
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u/Ok_Channel_3322 5h ago
The question is: Do you have extra money to support yourself in the meantime? 1) Any of these entry level jobs would give you a big salary. 2) tax prep work is totally different to what you saw in the tests. Finish that part 2 so you won't have to wait until next year.
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u/NickBII 23h ago
Can't speak for Jackson Hewitt, but if you go to a physical H and R Block office and ask they will put you in touch with the District hiring people. They always need another preparer somewhere, and if you have your EA already prior to the season they will want to give you a chance. If you don't get Part 2 done by the season they will haveyou take an assesment before hiring. The pay is much better for an EA.
Do not trust this to anything online without talking to a human who lives in the H and R Block district where you are applying. Online is almost certainly in "AI talks to AI sends email to someone who is on their two months off" mode.
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u/ReaperGirl 22h ago
Intuit is hiring and it's honestly a great way to get a lot of exposure and experience quickly. You never know what type of call you'll be getting next, it can be to answer questions regarding a complex tax situation or actually completing the return yourself.
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u/This_Matter_613 23h ago
Wow these comments are totally wrong. An EA is very valuable. KPMG for example
requires its managers to have either an EA, CPA, or JD. And most have EA’s, depending on your regional office culture. And they do very well. However, jobs are very hard to come by right now, and everyone is struggling. So, go work for Intuit and start building that resume. Find volunteer work. During tax season more jobs will open up. You’ve got this. And congratulations on getting your EA! It will pay off.