The classic quip about death and taxes being the only guaranteed things in life starts to hit a little closer to home when you have an issue with the IRS. Add an audit, a large tax debt, some scary looking letter, or a visit from a Revenue Officer, and the “death” part might start to sound more fun than the “tax” part.

The fastest way to get answers to your short tax questions is by following me on Twitter and asking your question there. I routinely monitor the #TaxHelp hashtag, also. If your question is quite complicated or you need somebody to do any of the following:

• review and respond to an IRS letter
• review or prepare a tax return
• negotiate a payment plan (Installment Agreement)
• file an appeal,
• obtain a reduced settlement (Offer in Compromise)
• try to get penalties removed for you
• determine your eligibility for a particular IRS program

or perform some other tax service for you, please contact us directly for a quote.

Who am I?

My name is Jassen Bowman, and I’m the guy that runs this place. I am an actual licensed tax professional that knows what the hell he’s talking about. I am licensed directly by the U.S. Treasury to represent taxpayers in collections, audits, and other tax matters.

As an Enrolled Agent, you can directly check with the IRS regarding the status of my license, and I encourage you to do this with ANY tax professional you are considering hiring (for CPA’s, contact their State Board of Accountancy, for attorneys, contact your state bar association).

List of state CPA boards
List of state bar assocations

To verify that somebody actually is an Enrolled Agent, contact:

Office of Practitioner Enrollment
P.O. Box 33968
Detroit, MI 48232
Phone: 313-234-1280
Fax: 313-234-1293
E-mail: epp@irs.gov

To check on the status of disciplinary actions against an Enrolled Agent, CPA, or attorney, contact:

Office of Professional Responsibility
1111 Constitution Ave., NW – Rm. 7238 Washington, DC 20224
E-mail: opr@irs.gov

Why can’t I find you on the NAEA web site?

I have never been a fan of trade associations, and that’s all the NAEA is. The majority of trade organizations are only interested in serving their own self-interests, not the interests of it’s members. The NAEA is actually pretty good in this regard, but I still do not personally see the point in belonging to a club just so I can say I’m a member — and that’s all NAEA membership gets you. They are in no way officially sanctioned by the IRS, and they have nothing to do with licensure or not screwing over your clients.

If you look up a tax professional on the NAEA web site and find them, it means one thing: They paid a few hundred bucks to the trade association to be there. That’s all it means — nothing else.

Why aren’t you listed with the BBB?

Pretty much for the same reason as the question above. However, my opinion of the BBB goes several steps lower. The BBB is supposed to be this consumer advocacy and protection organization. And yes, they do provide decent information about businesses that is better than nothing. However, don’t be fooled: The organization exists to serve it’s member businesses, NOT the consumer. The extent to which the BBB will actually assist a consumer with a complaint against a business doesn’t extend beyond sending a couple emails or making a phone call. In addition, the BBB has been proven to provide higher ratings to companies that pay the BBB membership fees or dispute resolution fees. This practice in no way benefits consumers.