Besides CPAs, Attorneys & enrolled agents, who else can by law represent a tax payer before the IRS?
Answer:
Actually, anyone can prepare and sign a return as the paid preparer, but if the person is neither a CPA, attorney, nor enrolled agent, the person can only represent the taxpayer with regards to the return they prepared. A CPA, attorney, or enrolled agent can represent the taxpayer with regards to any return, even if they did not prepare it.
The taxpayer can self represent. Not advised as they don't know the tax law well enough nor do they usually have the negotiation skills needed in the gray areas of the law.
my understanding is that only an enrolled agent can represent a taxpayer during dealings with the IRS in-person. At this time anyone can prepare a return for a taxpayer.
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