The last thing in the world I ever expected to be doing was taxes. After my first tax class ever, in college, I just shook my head. You’d have to be out of your mind to get into this field. It’s like quicksand. The information changes rapidly, sometimes 10 or 12 times a year. Every time you think you know something, it’s changed.
Clearly, you’re dealing with a crazy person here. The original Tax Nerd! Are you a Tax Nerd, too?
About 30 tax seasons ago, I started working for a CPA firm in beautiful, seaside Newport Beach—and got hooked on taxes.
Since those fateful days, I’ve written books and articles. I’ve taught taxpayers and tax professionals at UCLA, USC, on radio and TV. I’ve lectured, nagged, nudged, browbeaten, and comforted thousands, perhaps millions, of clients, readers, and friends about U.S. tax laws, loopholes, tricks, and caveats. I’ve even surprised tax professionals who have dozens of years of tax experience.
I have been both a headache and a blessing to IRS staff and their public relations team—bringing up questions and issues that most journalists never ask, and identifying and solving problems before they become major issues.
As an Enrolled Agent, I am “enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service.” EAs are the best-kept secret in the tax industry. Hardly anyone knows we exist—and I am out to change that!
EAs are the only tax professionals whose authority comes directly from the U.S. Treasury Department. We help taxpayers with audits, collections problems, and whatever problems and frustrations the IRS dreams up. Unlike CPAs, who are licensed by state agencies, EAs are recognized everywhere in the country. Want to know more? Check out the requirements for becoming an enrolled agent.
After thousands of hours of research, reading, writing, studying, and teaching taxes, today I am known worldwide as the Internet’s TaxMama®. As a Dow Jones columnist, I am on MarketWatch.com’s terrific TaxWatch team. McGraw-Hill asked me to write Small Business Taxes Made Easy. Watch for a new and improved version of the book in 2010. You can also hear my voice on radio stations around the country.
TaxMama® produces a daily TaxQuips podcast and a weekly tax roundup in Ask TaxMama every Friday, and Team TaxMama answers your tax questions in the TaxQuips forum. You’re welcome to join us, for free, at TaxMama.com. And tune in to the new Ask TaxMama radio show on Womens Radio at WomensRadio.com this summer.
In my spare time, I teach tax professionals how to pass the three frightfully difficult IRS examinations to become Enrolled Agents at IRSExams.com. And, now I’ll blog here each week as well.
Why do I devote all my waking hours to taxes and educating taxpayers like you? Because it’s fun! Taxes are like a puzzle. I love finding ways around the system to cut taxes. If there is a legal loophole, I want you to know about it. If you’re in trouble, I want you to get legitimate help. And I want you to have fun!
Eva Rosenberg, EA is the publisher of TaxMama.com, where your tax questions are answered. Eva is the author of several books and ebooks, including Small Business Taxes Made Easy. Eva teaches a tax pro course at IRSExams.com.
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