
You need to pass 3 separate IRS exams in order to “demonstrate a special competence in tax matters.” The exam is formally called the IRS Special Enrollment Examination, or SEE, but most people refer to it as the enrolled agent exam. The exam isn’t easy, but we help thousands of students just like you pass the exams every year.
Ready to become an enrolled agent? We can help.
Generally, it takes about a month to prepare for each part of the enrolled agent exam (between 3-4 months total). Of course, the length of your journey to become an enrolled agent depends on your prior tax experience. We have seen students with a lot of experience and some inexperienced students who applied themselves complete the process much faster.
The IRS allows 2 years from the completion of your first exam to pass all three. Once you pass all of the exams, you need to complete an online application to apply for enrollment to practice before the IRS. Just type “form 23” in the search box on pay.gov to find it. You should receive your enrollment card in about 60 days from the date of your application.
Most people assume that once they leave school they are also closing the door on taking stressful exams. In a world where change is the only constant, learning and assessment are an ever present part of professional life, so nothing could be further from the truth! Some assessments can be as simple as a small quiz at the end of a continuing education course. Expert level credentials such as the Enrolled Agent require you successfully pass three high stakes exams within 24 months.
Below are some time-tested tips you can leverage to increase your chances of passing all three of your Special Enrollment Exams (SEE’s) the first time.
The EA Exam, officially known as the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE), is a three-part exam administered by Prometric on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service. Each part is taken as a separate 100 multiple choice question exam and you will have 3.5 hours to answer all questions for that part.
The Enrolled Agent examination consists of 3 separate exams that you can take in any order. When you take the exam, you will see 15 questions that you didn’t study. Those questions are likely experimental and don’t count towards your score, so don’t get discouraged.
The IRS recently commissioned a job analysis that brought about some recent updates to the exam specs. The purpose of the review was to obtain specific details about the tasks an Enrolled Agent performs and the knowledge needed to adequately perform those duties.
These changes will go into effect for upcoming examinations beginning May 1, 2021. A full set of the test specifications, including a “tracked changes” version of the updated specifications, are available on Prometric.com.
Below is a comparison chart of the new domain weightings for each part of the EA exam.
SEE Part 1 Domains | New Weighting | Old Weighting |
---|---|---|
1. Preliminary Work and Taxpayer Data | 16% | 20% |
2. Income and Assets | 20% | 25% |
3. Deductions and Credits | 20% | 25% |
4. Taxation* | 18% | 16% |
5. Advising the Individual Taxpayer* | 13% | 0% |
6. Specialized Returns for Individuals | 13% | 14% |
*The old Domain named “Taxation and Advice” was split into two separate domains called ‘Taxation’ and ‘Advising the Individual Taxpayer’.
SEE Part 2 Domains | New Weighting | Old Weighting |
---|---|---|
1. Business Entities and Considerations* | 35% | 33% |
2. Business Tax Preparation* | 44% | 46% |
3. Specialized Returns and Taxpayers | 21% | 21% |
*These Domains have been renamed.
SEE Part 3 Domains | New Weighting | Old Weighting |
---|---|---|
1. Practices and Procedures | 31% | 30% |
2. Representation before the IRS | 29% | 28% |
3. Specific Areas of Representation* | 24% | 22% |
4. Filing Process* | 16% | 20% |
*These Domains have been renamed.
Source: https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/enrolled-agent-news
Exams given prior to May 1st 2021 were testing on 2019 tax law. If you studied for exams prior to this timeframe, you will want to familiarize yourself with recent changes to 2020 tax law as follows:
Test takers in 2021 to February 28th of 2022 should be able to identify/ understand:
To be successful in passing all three of your EA exams on the first try, you need a study plan that gets you through the material efficiently. Even if you do not like to read, you’ll need to make reading a daily habit early on. A good study plan will have you reading around four to five days per week for the first couple weeks. You will be reading each day for about an hour. Your plan will need to include some additional time for daily quizzes and a review of explanations to questions you are not sure about or those you get wrong. If you do not have a study plan of your own, we have a simple-to-follow study plan that was developed from working with our most successful students. Folks that use it, invariably thank us later because it's so effective & efficient in helping students pass. Paid students can get the study plan here.
Beware of the hype, many courses offer up fancy sounding technology with buzzwords like “groundbreaking” or “award winning”. A deeper look proves the groundbreaking technology is nothing more than marketing hype. A simple google search also proves that awards given for technology were from organizations that charge a fee as part of their sham.
One of the big buzzwords tossed around in education technology today is: adaptive. Study tools that don't collect data in real time are not adaptive. Tools that collect data through one singular assessment and prescribe a path of learning, but don't collect data or provide support in real-time are not adaptive. Unfortunately students are being told they have the best technology when the reality is they are getting basic quizzes spun with all the hype a marketing department can muster.
So what is adaptive? Adaptive sequencing is the ability to continuously collect real-time data on performance and use it to automatically change a students learning experience. Using unproven or overhyped tools thought up by marketing departments in place of a sound study plan in our opinion is risky and could result in failed exams, wasting considerable time and money. When considering an EA course to help you pass your exams on the first try, you want a clean design, and great content delivered through proven study tools, just like those offered here at Fast Forward Academy. You can try the EA exam course here if you are interested in learning more.
“How do I put urgency into my EA studies”, you ask? The answer is simple, make a proclamation that you will take one exam per month over about three months. Write the exam dates on a calendar visible to everyone, if you live alone, that's okay, put in the dates on the wall where you’ll see them multiple times per day. Put the exam date in your phone with a reminder. Tell your friends and family your plans and that your time for the next 3 months is dedicated to preparing for your EA exams.
The difference between dreams and goals is that a goal has a start and completion date next to it. To achieve means to live, act, work, and study with not just purpose, but urgency. Having a written goal that you are now accountable for achieving won’t make preparation harder, it will make it possible in 2021!
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The EA designation is the highest credential issued by the IRS (technically, the United States Department of the Treasury issues the enrollment card). Enrolled Agents, along with Attorneys and CPAs, are the only tax professionals with unlimited representation rights, meaning they can represent any client on any matter before the IRS. This is true even if the EA did not preparer the tax return involved.
Simply put, an enrolled agent can perform all of the same functions as a CPA or Attorney before any office of the IRS. The role of an enrolled agent extends beyond simply preparing tax returns. Enrolled agents can help taxpayers navigate audits, request payment agreements with the IRS, settle tax debts and various collection issues, and handle taxpayer appeals.
An EA does not handle criminal matters or represent clients in tax court unless the EA also happens to be an attorney.
IRS Division | What can an EA do? |
---|---|
Examinations – When the IRS is investigating the facts and trying to determine if a taxpayer owes money. This is called an “audit.” |
Represent the taxpayer before the IRS Corresponding and communicating with the IRS Representing a taxpayer at conferences, hearings, or meetings with the IRS |
Collections – When the IRS is attempting to collect a tax debt that is enforceable. |
Offer in compromise – Offer to pay less. Executing installment agreements (payment plan) on behalf of client Extending the collection period Abatements, releasing liens, preventing a levy (seizure of property). |
Office of Appeals – Appealing an IRS enforcement decision. |
Collection Due Process (CDP) Collection Appeals Program (CAP). |