What Does an Enrolled Agent Do in Whittier, CA?

An Enrolled Agent, commonly referred to as an “EA,” is a tax professional who has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the IRS. This isn’t just a certification you can pick up at a weekend seminar. Enrolled Agents must either pass a rigorous three-part Special Enrollment Examination covering individual tax, business tax, and representation, ethics, and practices—or have relevant experience as a former IRS employee. Once licensed, EAs must complete continuing education requirements every year to maintain their credentials and stay current with the ever-changing tax code.

What makes EAs unique is their federal authorization. Unlike tax preparers who may only be qualified to prepare returns, Enrolled Agents have unlimited practice rights before the IRS. This means an EA can represent you in audits, appeals, collections, and any other matter involving the IRS—regardless of who prepared your tax return originally.

This is one of the most common questions I receive, and it’s an important distinction to understand. While CPAs (Certified Public Accountants), tax attorneys, and Enrolled Agents all have the authority to represent taxpayers before the IRS, their training and focus areas differ significantly.

CPAs are trained in a broad range of accounting services—auditing financial statements, bookkeeping, financial planning, and yes, tax preparation. However, not all CPAs specialize in tax matters, and many focus primarily on accounting and financial reporting. A CPA’s tax knowledge can vary widely depending on their practice area.

Tax attorneys, on the other hand, are lawyers who specialize in tax law. They’re particularly valuable in situations involving tax litigation, criminal tax matters, or complex legal interpretations. However, their hourly rates typically reflect their legal training, often ranging from $800 to over $1,500 per hour.

Enrolled Agents occupy a unique position: they are tax specialists first and foremost. The EA designation exists specifically for tax expertise and IRS representation. We eat, sleep, and breathe tax law. For most tax situations—audits, collections, back taxes, amended returns, and tax planning—an Enrolled Agent provides the focused expertise you need at a more accessible price point than a tax attorney.

The scope of services an Enrolled Agent can provide is comprehensive. Here’s what you can expect when you work with a qualified EA like myself:

– Tax Return Preparation and Filing:From straightforward W-2 returns to complex multi-state filings, business returns, and international tax situations, an EA handles it all.
– IRS Audit Representation: If you receive that dreaded audit notice, an EA can represent you before the IRS, handle all communications, and advocate for the best possible outcome.
– Tax Problem Resolution: Back taxes, penalties, liens, levies, wage garnishments—an EA has the authority and expertise to negotiate with the IRS on your behalf.
– Offers in Compromise: If you qualify, an EA can help you settle your tax debt for less than you owe through the IRS Offer in Compromise program.
– Installment Agreement Negotiation: When you can’t pay your full tax balance, an EA can negotiate manageable payment plans with the IRS.
– Penalty Abatement Requests: An EA can request removal of penalties when you have reasonable cause, potentially saving you thousands.
– State Tax Representation: Beyond the IRS, many EAs (including myself) represent clients before state agencies like the California Franchise Tax Board, EDD, and CDTFA.
– Tax Planning: Proactive strategies to minimize your tax liability legally and maximize your financial position.

While Enrolled Agents can practice anywhere in the country, there’s tremendous value in working with someone who understands your local community. Whittier has a diverse economic landscape—from small family businesses in Uptown Whittier to professionals commuting to downtown Los Angeles, from real estate investors to self-employed contractors. Each of these situations presents unique tax considerations.

When you work with a Whittier-based EA like myself, you get someone who understands the local business environment, the challenges facing Southern California taxpayers, and the nuances of California’s complex tax system. You also get the convenience of face-to-face meetings when you need them, combined with the flexibility of virtual consultations for your busy schedule.

Plus, as a member of the Whittier community, my reputation depends on delivering results for my neighbors. That accountability matters.

Take a deep breath. An audit notice doesn’t automatically mean you’re in trouble or that you did anything wrong. The IRS audits returns for various reasons, and many audits result in no changes or even refunds to the taxpayer.

However, how you respond to an audit is critical. The first thing you should do is contact an Enrolled Agent before responding to the IRS or gathering documents. An experienced EA will review your notice, understand exactly what the IRS is questioning, and develop a strategic approach to your audit.

One of the most valuable services an EA provides during an audit is serving as a buffer between you and the IRS. You don’t have to attend audit meetings or speak directly with IRS examiners—your EA handles all of that. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about protecting your rights and avoiding common mistakes taxpayers make when facing the IRS alone.

In my practice, I’ve represented hundreds of clients through audits, from simple correspondence audits to complex field examinations. The key is thorough preparation, clear documentation, and knowing how to present your case effectively to the examining agent.

Absolutely—and this is more common than you might think. Life happens. Job loss, illness, divorce, overwhelming complexity, or simple procrastination can lead to multiple years of unfiled returns. Whatever the reason, the important thing is to address the situation before the IRS takes action.

An Enrolled Agent can help you create a systematic plan to get current. This typically involves gathering income documents (or reconstructing income when documents are missing), preparing the delinquent returns, and managing any resulting tax liabilities through payment arrangements or other resolution options.

What many people don’t realize is that filing your returns—even late—often reduces penalties, puts you in a better position for penalty abatement requests, and stops the clock on additional failure-to-file penalties. In some cases, clients discover they’re actually owed refunds for some of those missing years.

This is perhaps the most stressful tax situation for individuals, and it’s an area where an Enrolled Agent’s expertise is invaluable. The IRS has significant collection powers—they can levy bank accounts, garnish wages, and place liens on property. But they also have various programs designed to help taxpayers who genuinely cannot pay their full liability.

The options available depend on your specific financial situation:

– Installment Agreements allow you to pay your balance over time in manageable monthly amounts. The IRS offers streamlined installment agreements for balances under certain thresholds, and negotiated agreements for larger amounts.
– Currently Not Collectible (CNC) Status may be available if paying anything toward your tax debt would create economic hardship. While in CNC status, the IRS suspends collection activity.
– Offer in Compromise (OIC) allows qualified taxpayers to settle their tax debt for less than the full amount owed. This program has strict eligibility requirements and involves a detailed financial analysis.
– Penalty Abatement can reduce your balance by removing penalties when you have reasonable cause. First-time penalty abatement is also available for taxpayers with a clean compliance history.

An Enrolled Agent will analyze your complete financial picture, determine which options you qualify for, and advocate for the resolution that’s in your best interest.

Self-employment brings unique tax challenges that employed W-2 workers never face. From quarterly estimated tax payments to self-employment tax to business deduction documentation, there’s a lot to manage—and a lot of opportunities for tax savings if you know where to look.

An Enrolled Agent specializing in self-employed taxpayers and small businesses can help you structure your business for optimal tax efficiency, identify all legitimate deductions, ensure proper expense documentation, and plan for quarterly tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties.

Business entity selection is another area where professional guidance pays for itself many times over. Should you operate as a sole proprietor, form an LLC, or elect S-Corporation status? Each structure has different tax implications, and the right choice depends on your specific circumstances, income level, and business goals.

California has one of the most complex state tax systems in the country, and it’s administered by multiple agencies. The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) handles personal and corporate income taxes. The Employment Development Department (EDD) manages employment taxes. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) handles sales and use taxes.

As a California-based Enrolled Agent, I regularly represent clients before all these agencies. Whether you’re facing an FTB audit, dealing with EDD employment tax issues, or navigating CDTFA sales tax compliance, I can provide the same level of expert representation at the state level that I offer for federal matters.

California’s aggressive enforcement and high tax rates make professional representation especially valuable. State tax agencies have their own rules, procedures, and deadlines—and mistakes can be costly.

I bring a unique combination of high-level corporate finance experience and hands-on tax expertise to my independent practice. Before establishing my tax practice, I served as Controller at Xerox Corporation and Director of Finance at AEG, managing complex financial operations at the executive level for over two decades.

This corporate background gives me perspective that most tax practitioners don’t have. I understand how businesses operate, how financial decisions impact tax positions, and how to communicate complex tax issues in clear, understandable terms. When I work with business clients, I’m not just looking at tax returns—I’m understanding the full picture of their operations.

As an Enrolled Agent, I’ve built a practice focused on the areas where I can provide the most value: complex tax situations, multi-state returns, S-Corporation taxation, IRS and state representation, and expatriate tax matters. These are areas where generic tax preparers often fall short and where my experience makes a meaningful difference in outcomes.

When you hire a large accounting firm, you’re often paying premium rates—anywhere from $850 to $1,500 per hour—for the firm’s overhead and reputation. But who actually works on your file? Usually junior staff and associates, with partner review adding another layer of cost.

In my practice, you work directly with me—an experienced professional with senior-level expertise. There’s no delegation to junior staff, no layers of bureaucracy, and no communication filtered through multiple people. When you call, you reach me. When you have a question, you get my answer directly.

This direct access model allows me to offer competitive rates—with many engagements structured as flat fees for cost certainty. You get senior-level expertise at a fraction of large firm pricing, with the personal attention that only an independent practice can provide.

My practice serves a diverse client base, united by one common factor: they need more than basic tax preparation. My typical clients include small business owners navigating entity selection and business tax complexity, professionals with multiple income sources and investment portfolios, real estate investors managing rental properties and 1031 exchanges, self-employed individuals and independent contractors, multi-state filers dealing with complex state tax situations, U.S. expats and Americans with foreign income or assets, and taxpayers facing IRS audits, collections, or other enforcement actions.

While I’m based in Whittier and serve the greater Los Angeles area, my practice extends nationwide and internationally. Modern technology makes it easy to work with clients regardless of location, and my expatriate tax specialty means I regularly serve Americans living around the world.

Consider working with an Enrolled Agent if any of the following apply to your situation: you’ve received any notice from the IRS or a state tax agency, you have unfiled tax returns from previous years, you owe back taxes and aren’t sure how to handle them, your tax situation is complex (business income, multiple states, investments, rental properties), you’re an American living abroad or have foreign income/assets, you want proactive tax planning to minimize future tax liability, or you’re simply not confident that your current preparer is maximizing your deductions and credits.

If you’re dealing with the IRS in any capacity—correspondence, audits, collections, appeals—having an EA in your corner isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.

The first step is always understanding your specific situation. During our initial consultation, I’ll learn about your tax history, current challenges, and goals. If you’re dealing with an IRS issue, I’ll review your notices and explain exactly what you’re facing. If you need tax preparation or planning, I’ll assess the complexity of your situation.

From there, I’ll outline a clear path forward, including recommended services, estimated costs, and timeline. I believe in transparency—you’ll always know what to expect before we proceed.

I make it easy to get in touch. You can reach my Whittier office by phone or online to schedule a consultation. Whether you prefer to meet in person, via video conference, or over the phone, I’m flexible to accommodate your preferences and schedule.

If you’re facing an IRS deadline or urgent tax matter, don’t wait. Time limits apply to many tax situations, and early intervention almost always leads to better outcomes.