To confirm someone is a legitimate Enrolled Agent, use the IRS enrolled agent database at irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf. It’s the official, free lookup, and it takes about a minute. The tool’s full name is the Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications, and it lists tax professionals who hold a current Preparer Tax Identification Number along with a recognized credential, including Enrolled Agents, CPAs, attorneys, enrolled actuaries, enrolled retirement plan agents, and Annual Filing Season Program participants.1Internal Revenue Service. Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications
Because EA credentials are issued and tracked directly by the IRS, this directory is the definitive source for confirming Enrolled Agent status. Attorney and CPA entries in the same tool are self-reported and verified once at entry, so for those two credentials the authoritative source is the relevant state bar or board of accountancy.1Internal Revenue Service. Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications
How to Run the Search
No account is needed. Open the directory and enter the professional’s last name along with a city or zip code. Check the box for “Enrolled Agent Credential” to filter out everyone else in the area. If you already have the practitioner’s PTIN, search by that number directly for a faster, exact match.1Internal Revenue Service. Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications
One boundary worth knowing before you search: unlicensed preparers who only hold a PTIN are not in this directory. It only covers professionals with a credential or qualification the IRS recognizes. Someone missing from the list isn’t necessarily a fraud — they may simply be an uncredentialed preparer — but they are not an Enrolled Agent.
What the Result Tells You
When the person appears in the results, look at the status.
Active. The EA has met renewal and continuing education requirements and holds full authority to represent taxpayers before the IRS. This is the status you want to see before handing over sensitive financial information.
Inactive. Under federal regulations, an EA who fails to renew on time or doesn’t complete required continuing education gets placed on an inactive roster. During that period, the individual cannot practice before the IRS at all. They also cannot use the title “Enrolled Agent,” the abbreviation “EA,” or imply in any way that they’re eligible to represent taxpayers.2eCFR. 31 CFR 10.6 – Term and Renewal of Status as an Enrolled Agent, Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent, or Registered Tax Return Preparer If a preparer is advertising as an EA but shows up as inactive, they’re violating federal rules by using the title.
Inactive retirement. A voluntary designation for EAs who have stopped practicing. Retired EAs are also ineligible to represent clients.2eCFR. 31 CFR 10.6 – Term and Renewal of Status as an Enrolled Agent, Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent, or Registered Tax Return Preparer
Not listed at all. Some practitioners won’t appear because they’ve been suspended or disbarred through disciplinary proceedings. Others may have let their PTIN lapse, which removes them from the directory even if the EA designation itself hasn’t been formally revoked. If a tax professional claims the directory is simply out of date, verify through one of the backup routes below before hiring them.
Backup Ways to Verify an Enrolled Agent
The online directory is the fastest option, and for most people it’s the only one they need. If it’s down, if you want a second confirmation, or if you’re checking a list of names at once, the IRS offers other routes.
Call or Email the Office of Enrollment
Reach the IRS Office of Enrollment by phone at 855-472-5540, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, or by email at epp@irs.gov. That inbox is exclusively for the Enrolled Agent program, so keep the question focused on EA status. Mail goes to: Office of Enrolled Agent Policy and Management, 127 International Dr, Room EA125, Franklin, TN 37067.3Internal Revenue Service. Contact the Office of Enrollment
Download the FOIA List of Active Enrolled Agents
The IRS publishes a downloadable CSV file of all active Enrolled Agents under the Freedom of Information Act. It’s useful for bulk verification or cross-referencing a list of names. The file is updated twice a year, so it lags the live directory; the most recent update was November 1, 2025.4Internal Revenue Service. Active Enrolled Agents and the Freedom of Information Act Someone who recently earned or recently lost the credential may not be reflected yet.
Check the Disciplinary Records
If your concern is past misconduct rather than current status, the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility maintains a searchable spreadsheet of practitioners censured, suspended, or disbarred for violations of Circular 230 over the past 25 years. It covers all types of practitioners, not just EAs.5Internal Revenue Service. Search for Disciplined Tax Professionals Someone who shows Active in the main directory but appears on the disciplinary list with a past censure may still be eligible to practice, but that history is worth knowing before you hire them.
Reporting Someone Who Faked the Credential
If a preparer falsely claimed to be an Enrolled Agent, or a verified EA engaged in fraud, the IRS has a formal complaint process. You’ll need two forms: Form 14157 (Complaint: Tax Return Preparer) and Form 14157-A (Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit). Falsely claiming to hold an EA credential is specifically listed as reportable misconduct.6Internal Revenue Service. Make a Complaint About a Tax Return Preparer
Submit the forms online through the IRS website, fax them to 855-889-7957, or mail them to: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: Return Preparer Office, 401 W. Peachtree Street NW, Mail Stop 421-D, Atlanta, GA 30308. If you already received a notice or letter from the IRS about the issue, follow the submission instructions in that letter instead. Don’t use Form 14039 (identity theft) or Form 3949-A (tax law violations) for preparer complaints; those forms serve different purposes.6Internal Revenue Service. Make a Complaint About a Tax Return Preparer