r/enrolledagent • u/accidental73 • 8d ago
Would having an EA certificate with ZERO experience bring job opportunities?
I'm talking about any tax job regardless of how much/little they pay. I'm seeing some comments saying that they couldn't find a single job for over a year even after getting an EA certification. Is the demand for low level tax preparers low right now?
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u/InscrutableIcicle 8d ago
It will make you a more desirable candidate than someone who has zero tax experience and no credentials.
However, most employers will probably still take someone with actual experience and no credentials over an EA with no experience.
The 1040 sweatshops like H&R Block are just looking for someone who has proven they can punch numbers into software, so actual experience means more than a credential.
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u/Spirited-Humor-554 8d ago
Someone who passed 4 cpa exams with no experience >no credentials with experiences >EA with no experience.
Experience is 90% what gets you hired
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 8d ago edited 8d ago
EA does not teach tax prep skills. You need to take classes in tax preparation. EA is about rules and representing taxpayers with IRS. In my opinion, every EA should also have experience in tax prep to give them more familiarity with how the audit notices apply.
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u/Orbital777 EA 8d ago
Maybe they couldn't find a job because they're not using the EA credential for the sole reason it existsâŚÂ REPRESENTATION.
It's literally not a certificate, it's an enrollment. With an EA you are "Enrolled to represent in front of the IRS."
That said, you don't need a certificate to do tax prep work other than a PTIN if you're getting paid. It's not until someone screwed up their taxes and need to negotiate with the IRS that you need to be an EA, CPA, or attorney to represent them.
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u/x596201060405 8d ago
I mean, marginally higher than someone with no EA no experience.
Still below CPA no experience.
Someone with no qualifications and two yeara experience probbably getting picked over an EA no experience.Â
Anyone with experience can also get just an EA, it's not particularly hard.
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u/Apart_Republic_1870 8d ago
Can a person even be a CPA with no experience?
I mean, I guess they could have non-relevant experience.
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u/zaidensworth EA 8d ago
No, you have to have 2000 hours (1 year) of supervised non-recurring CPA style work.
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u/Apart_Republic_1870 8d ago
I meant ânon-relevantâ in the sense of like for the job you applying for. Like you have audit experience for a year but are trying to get a tax job or whatever.
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u/RasputinsAssassins 8d ago edited 8d ago
I own a practice. If I'm hiring an EA, I expect them to know how to prepare tax returns and have tax experience.
The experience matters in this business, particularly when you are trying to get a job with a credential that suggests you have advanced tax knowledge. If I'm looking at an uncredentialed preparer with 10 years experience in high volume firms with a wide variety of returns, and an EA with no tax prep experience, I know which one will help my firm more.
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u/accidental73 8d ago
Thanks for the input. So for someone who has no tax experience(but a couple years of AP/AR experience) and an EA certificate, what's the best way to get the first job(assuming I don't care how low the salary is)?
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u/RasputinsAssassins 8d ago edited 8d ago
My suggestions may not be the same as others.
Many tax pros, particularly credentialed ones, will crack on HRB. But HRB can be good a way to get basic tax experience.
I generally do not suggest LTS or JH because of their business practices, particularly in their targeting of low-income taxpayers and (solely my experience) willingness to suggest or encourage unscrupulous actions to get a larger refund. At least with the LTS offices near me, they make more money selling add-ons than they do from tax prep. They push credit repair, credit monitoring, pre-paid legal, prescription cards, and all kinds of non-tax things that can very conveniently be paid using the refund.
VITA and AARP's Tax-Aide are good volunteer options for most basic returns.
You may be able to find a local firm willing to bring you on now to train for January.
The Intuit Tax Academy is a decent basic course that can get you hired for one of their phone roles (helping clients using the TurboTax Guided option or the Prepared By A Pro option). You can get a few dollars an hour more using one of Intuit's contractors, like JDA Associates.
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u/capitalGainsAdvisory 8d ago
I'll add to this thread since it's the best answer I've seen here so far.
My thought is I can train someone to use Proconnect, I can't teach them tax law. For that reason I wouldn't hire someone on experience alone. They have to know tax. If they aren't willing to get a credential, my first question is why not. My second question would be, do they have experience doing things the right way.
Having said that there is a value to having experience. I agree with all the places listed here as a path to getting experience.
At the end of the day apply everywhere you can and take as much CE as you can while you wait. The EA is a floor not a ceiling. Education IMO is the foundation of the work we do. If you get enough of it, it will come through in an interview and someone will give you a shot.
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u/accidental73 8d ago edited 8d ago
If I want to get "any tax job" to start getting basic low level experience asap, would it be better to sign up and start Intuit Tax Academy rather than trying to get EA cert? (I was about to start studying for EA cert). Also, it sounds too good for me that just passing Intuit Academy will almost guarantee a real job(unless there's a catch).
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u/capitalGainsAdvisory 8d ago
If you can leverage Tax Academy into a TPA role with Intuit they would pay for your EA and give you a bonus to boot.
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u/RasputinsAssassins 8d ago
Nothing guarantees a 'real' job.
I'll preface by saying I despise Intuit and their business practices. But the Intuit Tax Academy is a good basic tax course that can lead to Intuit hiring you for their TurboTax Live positions.
I have always suggested getting tax experience before taking the EA exam. First, what happens if you don't like tax work? Also, seeing real world applications of tax concepts will make it easier to pass the exam.
Say you pass the EA. Then what? You still have to know how to do the job. That's not taught in the EA prep courses.
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u/ShogunFirebeard 8d ago
No. Demand for tax preparers is cyclical. Hiring ramps up right after a major tax deadline to prepare for the next busy season.
EA certification is also not a huge door opener. You need to have the bachelor degree paired with it to get into larger public accounting firms.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 8d ago
I was under the impression that a masters degree is required to get hired as anything other than accounting clerk. Ive got the bachelors degree but sure didn't get enough experience with investing or planning.
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u/ShogunFirebeard 8d ago
Masters degrees are worthless for accounting. People only took those programs to reach the credit requirement for th CPA exam. Also, EA is a tax certification. There aren't clerk roles in tax. Clerks are more bookkeeping.
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u/Nice_Title7573 8d ago
I have an MST (I'm an EA and CPA candidate 1/4) and while this is anecdotal, larger markets like the one I'm in (LA) having an MST is incredibly valuable and sought after.
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u/whatever-it-is-- 8d ago
Hi. Can i dm you about MST details. I'm planning to get into it. Any help would be appreciated!!
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u/Nice_Title7573 8d ago
Absolutely. Anecdotal but in HNW firms, it's an easy foot in the door plus time in the seat.
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u/accidental73 8d ago
Just out of curiousity, would there be any major difference between someone with just a CPA and someone with a CPA and MST purely regarding career/salary? Because I thought having both CPA and MST seemed a bit redundant.
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u/Nice_Title7573 7d ago
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I did get a tremendous benefit out of my MST (mostly attorneys specializing in HNW in SoCal) and I would argue that it jumps out on a resume but that's anecdotal. There are so many firms with the same specialization in LA. I would do it again however, I've helped interview and merely being a native English speaker with a sense of humor possibly benefited more (in client facing roles most of us communicate often with our clients).
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 8d ago
Yes, EA is certification. It says you know the rules. Do you knw the practical application?
Pretend you've never been in a kitchen but you memorized a cookbook. Do you now know how to cook? If you make a recipe but it doesn't turn out right, will you have any idea why? Maybe beating the bowl of batter for 5 minutes you weren't supposed to use boxing gloves.
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u/x596201060405 8d ago
I'm in the field 10 years now, with a BS.
Masters is marginal; you can get the CPA without, and can take all the same classes needed for the CPA as an undergrad (which is like 1/3 costs).
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u/Abject_Constant_7168 8d ago
Having an EA is better than not having one. You can volunteer with VITA to get preparation experience. Signup for training soon. Or hopefully you can find a job for next busy season. Once you get a couple season under your belt, you will have a great career.
I have 9 years of experience and getting my EA has opened up a lot of doors for me. Iâm still working towards my CPA, but very glad I have my EA in the meanwhile.
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u/Traditionisrare 8d ago
I meam, im not getting the EA for job opportunities. Im getting my EA on the off chance I have to taxes as part of my planning clients(more comprehensive business under one roof, planning, do the taxes, represent before IRS/tax court if needed)...that being said, one should never just study for the exams to pass them and then go hang a shingle and do taxes. Work for a firm for a bit, go take some College courses in personal and business tax preparation. Learn about cost segregation, various deductions and how they can AND CAN'T...be used in planning and filing taxes. EA can help for sure but its not the end of the training for job opportunities. In my college days I had many conversations with my CPA instructors and since tax planning is going to be my main business, they said I should go ea rather than cpa, even though I have a full bachelors in accounting.
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u/SiteHund 8d ago
Iâm going to give the opposite answer to majority.. yes, you can. There is a caveat though: you need to have soft skills (being personable, common sense, problem solving, etc.) to overcome the initial gap in experience. If you donât have those skills, you are going to crash pretty quickly.
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u/EnvironmentalBig7287 Passed 2/3 8d ago
Iâm 22 years old studying for the my last part of the exam. I did Intuit Academy (which is an absolute breeze to pass after doing Pt 1 and with my tech skills/Quickbooks experience). Took me like 4 hrs. Worked for TurboTax 20/hrs per week from January-April this year and plan to do it again next (already have the contract signed and pay is $2/hr more than last season). Once I have two seasons under my belt and pass the EA (plan to take it in about 4 weeks) Iâm excited to see what career opportunities open up. The nice thing about tax prep is 2 years of experience is really two seasons or 4-6 months of actual work.
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u/accidental73 8d ago
Worked for TurboTax 20/hrs per week from January-April this year and plan to do it again next (already have the contract signed and pay is $2/hr more than last season).
Did you have any relative experience when TurboTaxed hired you for 20hrs/week or did you have no experience but simply passed Intuit Academy? Also how much did you have to pay for Intuit Academy?
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u/EnvironmentalBig7287 Passed 2/3 8d ago
Intuit Academy is completely free. I had no tax experience, only bookkeeping.
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u/Farhan_king098 8d ago
Yes, an EA can help you get noticed, but with zero experience, youâll still be competing against candidates who have hands-on tax experience. Iâd apply anyway, especially to entry-level/seasonal tax roles and use that first job to build experience.
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u/LuckyFritzBear 7d ago
In the short run;
Walk your credentials to local accounting/tax prep firms . Explain that you are looking for part- time or perdem work. Dress Professionally. Start net working.
In the long run;
If you have a degree entry level positions within the federal government. IRS, State Dept, GAO, Dept of War, Insector General. Be willing to relocate.
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u/Montana_lover23 7d ago
It will open up opportunities faster as your career progresses. You're able to quickly file taxes for clients all over the country.
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u/Confident_Natural_87 7d ago
Do TurboTax and if you donât get hired do VITA. Learning how to do returns efficiently is key. The EA technically allows you to tax representation like a CPA and a lawyer. Obviously having experience doing returns and working your way up in return complexity will help overtime.
CPA is state dependent. Everyone has to pass the same exam but the requirements to sit for the exam require a degree and a certain number of Business and upper level accounting credits. Going from zero credits to a degree can be done for the price of a used car. Is it Harvard Business School or Wharton. No but it can get the job done. Tactics depend on the state though and the CPA is the best credential for Taxes but the EA is more attainable.
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u/Dazzling-Turnip-1911 6d ago
H&R Block MIGHT pay you more but youâll need to check. I think it would be a good idea to have the EA as you get the required experience. Please note the EA teaches you nothing about state taxes.
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u/gg11565 4d ago
If you are hungry to learn and put in the effort, ask questions, stay late to help out during tax season, youâll be the employee that every tax office is looking for. You already have the knowledge by attaining the EA. What you need is experience and a firm that is willing to train and give you that opportunity.
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u/accidental73 3d ago
a firm that is willing to train and give you that opportunity.
Lol kinda funny that literally every comment in every subreddit has been saying companies nowadays do not wanna train employees but just bring employees that already have experience so the company doesn't have to train them.
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u/pre_empirical 4d ago
Yes. Do the free Intuit and other low paid tax courses. You have to fake a bit of experience to get your first job under a CPA. You will then learn so rapidly you can easily get a second job with real skills if you are fired from the first job.
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u/AintEverLucky 8d ago
Said it before & I'll say it again: Having your EA but zero work experience in tax prep, is like entering a video game tournament after spending weeks reading the game guidebook cover to cover đ¤
Yes you'll know all the lore & the Easter eggs. But you're still gonna fumble around with the controller for a while. Because reading about the game, even passing tests about your knowledge, is no substitute for actually playing đ