About Us

Enrolled Agents (EAs) are tax professionals – the only professionals licensed by the federal government, rather than by individual states, to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and assist them with tax planning and the preparation of tax returns.

EAs federal designation – gives EAs access and insight with federal and state agencies no matter where the EA practices and no matter where the taxpayer lives. Because of the difficulty of earning enrollment and the strict professional education required to maintain enrolled status, it's estimated that there are fewer than 45,000 EAs in the world.

CSEA (California Society of Enrolled Agents) – is a nonprofit organization representing approximately 4,100 Enrolled Agents statewide, as well as affiliated tax professionals.

CSEA, PALOMAR CHAPTER – is located in North County San Diego and is a local chapter of the California Society of Enrolled Agents, the California professional membership association of Enrolled Agents (EAs). It is organized to serve Enrolled Agents, CPAs, Attorneys, and Registered Tax Preparers in the regions of North County San Diego and South Riverside County. More specifically, our members are as far reaching as Alpine, Anza, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Leucadia, Murrieta, Norwalk, Oceanside, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Mirage, San Diego, San Marcos, Solana Beach, Temecula, Valley Center and Vista.

MISSION – the mission of our chapter is to foster the professionalism, business development and personal growth of our Members, protect their professional interests as they serve taxpayers, and enhance the awareness and role of the Enrolled Agent among members of the public, other professions and with governmental agencies.

MEMBERS - attend our regular monthly dinner meetings which provides continuing professional education, networking, social time, and an outlet for discussion of various tax practice issues.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION - we are a great source for continuing professional education (CPE)!  If you're interested in becoming a member, please print and fill out our Membership Application.  CSEA Palomar Chapter is an approved CPE and CLE education provider through our chapter dinner meetings and seminars with the following: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), American Institute for CPAs (AICPA), California Bar Association - Taxation Section (CBA), and California Tax Education Council (CTEC).

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, August 2010

“On both sides of the aisle, lawmakers are coming to terms with hard political fact: services are going to have to be cut and taxes are going to have to go up to keep the $13 trillion-plus national debt from sky-rocketing into infinity and beyond. Even some leading Republicans have said in recent days they expect that a debt reduction plan will include a "revenue" element. That means taxes. It turns out the national debt, when you factor in the promised benefits of Social Security and Medicare versus what those programs are expected to bring in, is much higher than the $13 trillion national debt – between $61 and $106 trillion, de-pending on whom you talk to.

The long-term benefits are going to have to be cut, or taxes are going to have to go up, probably both.”

That was from Byron Wolf of ABC News.

What does all that mean for tax preparers? Well, heads up, it is going to get interesting!

Effective for all Federal tax returns signed on or after January 1, 20ll all paid tax preparers will have to be registered with the IRS and include a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on the return. They don’t care if you are an EA, CPA or CTEC – you will need to get a PTIN. All Non attorneys, CPA, and EA’s will also have to take an IRS competency examination and will be subject to IRS continuing education requirements. There will be a fee of $50 for renewals or new PTIN. That will include ALL preparers. The IRS agents who spoke at our last meeting recommended getting a PTIN now if you do not have one. Testing is not required until the end of 2013. If you know of a preparer who is thinking of taking the EA exam, now would be a good time to encourage them to take the exam. Can you imagine what it is going to be like for thousands of tax preparers trying to take the new exam! If the government is involved, it most likely will not go smoothly.

More good stuff from the IRS, there will be e-filing requirements. Now my first thought was this would not affect me, as I now e-file. But, what there is more, I don’t e-file 1120, 1041 etc. Will that be mandatory? How do we opt out of filing a return? Will there be a new form? What about those preparers who don’t want to e-file? Is there going to be penalties for not e-filing? California has a $50 per return penalty for returns that should have been e-filed and were sent in on paper, without reasonable cause. California had a long phase in period for e-filing. We will not be so lucky with the Federal e-filing. This is why you need a strong Chapter – to help you keep up with all the changes.

Lois L. Leonard EA, Palomar President

Dinner Meeting - Join us for our Upcoming Dinner Meeting on Wednesday, September 15. Renee Rodda, JD—Spidell.