April 19, 2005
Dear NAEA members;
The purpose of this legislative alert is to share with you some great news. We learned this morning that our hoped for proposal regarding the enrollment of paid preparers was introduced yesterday in the Senate!
The bill, Senate Bill 832 (S. 832, in E@lert nomenclature) is called the Taxpayer Protection and Assistance Act. S. 832 contains our language regarding preparer enrollment and also includes some long-desired EA credential protection language. The preparer enrollment section is consistent with NAEA's position on the matter; it calls for enrollment of all paid preparers under Circular 230, administration of preparers by a fully resourced Office of Professional Responsibility, and promotion of all enrolled preparers by IRS.
In addition to these two provisions of great note to enrolled agents (and in fact, to all Circular 230 practitioners), the bill also includes provisions addressing low-income tax clinics, refund anticipation loans, and taxpayers without bank accounts.
The Taxpayer Protection and Assistance Act is a pro-taxpayer and pro-tax professional bill that will enhance the integrity of the tax administration system. Introduced by Senator Bingaman of New Mexico, the bill enjoys bipartisan support, including both the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee (Chuck Grassley and Max Baucus, respectively) as well as Senators Smith, Akaka, Schumer, and Pryor.
By way of background, we have attached a copy of the floor statement that Senator Bingaman used when he introduced the bill, as well as a copy of letters of appreciation to Senator Bingaman from NAEA President Faye Touchet and from New Mexico Society of Enrolled Agents President Linda Ruckel.
While we still have work to do to ensure passage of this bill of major significance for EAs, we wanted to make sure to share with you this milestone. We also wanted to acknowledge publicly those who have been of great assistance in our efforts. Linda Ruckel of the New Mexico Society provided remarkable assistance in advancing this legislation. On two occasions, she responded to our request for assistance with promptness, graciousness and true cooperation. One of those times was on April 15, a day on which we know she had other things on her mind! The NMSEA letters to Senator Bingaman went a long way to getting this first step done.
Further, our Senior Director, Government Relations Robert Kerr and legislative counsel Jeff Trinca did some heavy lifting throughout the process, and their knowledge of the legislative process in specific and tax administration in general were invaluable. Finally, our Government Relations Committee Chair Bill Payne was involved with us every step of the way and provided the practical perspective of a real live practitioner.
Stay tuned to future E@lerts as well as to future legislative updates for further developments.
Sincerely,
Susan Zuber, CAE
Executive Vice President
National Association of Enrolled Agents