The IRS description of an Enrolled Agent –
Enrolled Agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. Individuals who obtain this elite status must adhere to ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education courses every three years.
Enrolled Agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), have unlimited practice rights. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before.
The National Association of Enrolled Agents –
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels- examination, collection, and appeals- of the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to taxpayer representation Enrolled Agents often provide tax consultation services and prepare a wide range of federal and state tax returns.