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Accountants in the United States

Find an accountant or CPA in the USA

In the US, CPAs are licensed by each state, while enrolled agents are licensed by the IRS for the whole country. State taxes vary enormously - from no income tax at all to city income taxes on top of state ones. Here is how to choose and check an accountant, and a guide for each state.

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CPA, enrolled agent or tax preparer?

  • CPA (certified public accountant): licensed by a state board of accountancy. CPAs can prepare taxes, represent you before the IRS, and are the only ones who can audit and sign certain financial statements. Most states let CPAs licensed elsewhere serve clients under "mobility" rules.
  • Enrolled agent (EA): licensed by the IRS as a tax specialist and allowed to represent taxpayers before the IRS in every state.
  • Tax preparer: anyone paid to prepare federal returns must have a PTIN from the IRS, but many preparers have no further license. See our tax preparer guide.

Guides by state

How to check an accountant

  1. CPA

    Search the state board of accountancy or CPAverify.org, which covers most states, and check the license is active.

  2. Enrolled agent or preparer

    The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials lists EAs, CPAs and attorneys with a PTIN.

  3. Ask for an engagement letter

    A written agreement setting out what is included and the fee protects you both.

State taxes differ a lot

A handful of states, including Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada and Tennessee, have no income tax on wages, while others add city or local income taxes on top of the state one. Sales tax runs from zero in a few states to over 9% combined in some cities. If you have moved states, work in one state and live in another, or sell into several states, choose an accountant who regularly handles multi-state returns.

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Related guides

Common questions

Usually yes for federal returns, and most states let out-of-state CPAs serve clients under mobility rules. For state returns, choose someone who regularly prepares returns for your state.
A CPA is licensed by a state and can do audits and financial statements as well as tax work. An enrolled agent is licensed by the IRS and specializes in tax, with the right to represent taxpayers before the IRS nationwide.
A small number of states, including Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada and Tennessee, do not tax wages. Some of them still tax businesses in other ways, such as Texas franchise tax or Washington B&O tax.
Search the state board of accountancy for the state where the CPA is licensed, or use CPAverify.org.

Accountants by type

Small business accountant Accountant for self-employed Contractor accountant Tax preparer Tax accountant Bookkeeper Accountant for landlords Self Assessment accountant VAT and sales tax accountant Payroll services

Accountants by US state

California Florida Georgia Illinois New York Ohio Pennsylvania Texas

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