Heyer & Associates EA, PA

Profile

Ralf F. Heyer

President and founder of Heyer & Associates, EA, PA, Ralf F. Heyer is an enrolled agent who works to bring his clients tax and accounting services with personal attention. The company's wide array of services includes personal income tax preparation, business income tax preparation, IRS audit representation, tax planning, payroll processing, monthly bookkeeping services, write up services, as well as QuickBooks specialists and incorporation services.

Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Ralf moved to the United States when he was just five years old. He attended Florida International University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, with a double major in international business and marketing, in 2002. Currently, Ralf is pursuing a Master of Accounting degree from Florida Atlantic University where he expects to graduate in the spring of 2010.

Ralf is an enrolled agent (EA), which is defined as 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 of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals. As an EA, Ralf advises, represents, and prepares tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts, and any entities with tax-reporting requirements as well as effectively represents taxpayers audited by the IRS.

Prior to opening Heyer & Associates, EA, PA, Ralf worked as a controller for Continental Equities, Inc. and Peters Maxey Short and Maxey, P.A. where he prepared corporate and individual taxes, managed the financial accounting department, performed monthly bank reconciliations for more than 50 bank accounts, and assisted in cash management activities and investment strategies.

Today, Ralf runs Heyer & Associates, EA, PA, which he opened in March 2005. He works with clients from a variety of industries including medical, dental, chiropractic, legal, retail, marketing, real estate, mortgage, and technology. The company strives to treat each client as an individual rather than as a number. Employed by highly trained staff, Heyer & Associates, EA, PA is also equipped with extremely high-tech software, which helps the company satisfy a multitude of client needs. In addition, Ralf also strives to educate his clients to help them understand complicated tax and accounting issues.

Ralf currently resides in Miami. In his spare time he volunteers as a lector at St. Raymond Catholic Church. Ralf is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), a student member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a member of the American Society of Tax Problems Solvers (ATSPS), and a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

What is an Enrolled Agent?

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 of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals.

What does the term "Enrolled Agent" mean?

"Enrolled" means to be licensed to practice by the federal government, and "Agent" means authorized to appear in the place of the taxpayer at the IRS. Only Enrolled Agents, attorneys, and CPAs may represent taxpayers before the IRS. The Enrolled Agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who represented citizens in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department.

How does one become an Enrolled Agent?

The license is earned in one of two ways, by passing a comprehensive examination which covers all aspects of the tax code, or having worked at the IRS for five years in a position which regularly interpreted and applied the tax code and its regulations. All candidates are subjected to a rigorous background check conducted by the IRS.

How can Enrolled Agent help me?

Enrolled Agents advise, represent, and prepare tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts, and any entities with tax-reporting requirements. Enrolled Agents' expertise in the continually changing field of taxation enables them to effectively represent taxpayers audited by the IRS.

Privilege and the Enrolled Agent

The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 allow federally authorized practitioners (those bound by the Department of Treasury's Circular 230 regulations) a limited client privilege. This privilege allows confidentiality between the taxpayer and the Enrolled Agent under certain conditions. The privilege applies to situations in which the taxpayer is being represented in cases involving audits and collection matters. It is not applicable to the preparation and filing of a tax return. This privilege does not apply to state tax matters, although a number of states have an accountant-client privilege.

Are Enrolled Agents required to take continuing professional education?

In addition to the stringent testing and application process, the IRS requires Enrolled Agents to complete 72 hours of continuing professional education, reported every three years, to maintain their Enrolled Agent status. NAEA members are obligated to complete 90 hours per three year reporting period. Because of the knowledge necessary to become an Enrolled Agent and the requirements to maintain the license, there are only about 46,000 practicing Enrolled Agents.

What are the differences between Enrolled Agents and other tax professionals?

Only Enrolled Agents are required to demonstrate to the IRS their competence in matters of taxation before they may represent a taxpayer before the IRS. Unlike attorneys and CPAs, who may or may not choose to specialize in taxes, all Enrolled Agents specialize in taxation. Enrolled Agents are the only taxpayer representatives who receive their right to practice from the U.S. government (CPAs and attorneys are licensed by the states).

Are Enrolled Agents bound by any ethical standards?

Enrolled Agents are required to abide by the provisions of the Department of Treasury's Circular 230, which provides the regulations governing the practice of Enrolled Agents before the IRS. NAEA members are also bound by a Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct of the Association.