Jean's Blog

The Phone Lines Are Open

Posted by Jean

Operators are standing by….  Okay, not operators, exactly, but something better: Enrolled Agents.  Last year, my longtime Today producer Patricia Luchsinger and I brainstormed the idea of a tax hotline.  A phone bank of experts ready, willing and able to answer your tax questions for free.  It went so well that we are doing it again tomorrow morning.    The phone lines open at 6:30 a.m. EST and close at 10 a.m. EST.  We’ll be answering many questions on the phones and a few live on the air. The number is 877-NBC-4-TAX or 877-622-4829.  

What exactly is an enrolled agent?   They are folks licensed by the US Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS for audits, appeals and collections. While certified public accountants may or may not specialize in taxes, enrolled agents are all tax specialists. In order to earn the EA license, they must pass a stringent three-part exam and complete annual continuing professional education requirements that keep them up-to-date on the latest changes in the Tax Code. Enrolled agents provide services to millions of individual and business taxpayers. EAs adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct, and they are required by IRS to pursue Continuing Professional Education.  Many of them have even worked for the IRS in a former life.

Join me! Then let me know here if you got your question answered to your satisfaction….