[Anonymous]

I am returning to school to earn a Masters in Taxation, and then plan to study for my CPA. I have zero desire or interest to work in public accounting. My interest seems to be towrds representation and controversy work – Preparing individual and business returns for the steady money.

At the end of my program in (about 12 more months) I will have my 150 hours, and plan to apply for a state where my accumulated 150 hours will be satisfactory (I loathe accounting, I like tax, but loathe accounting – but I respect the knowledge it represents)

I have a solid 12 months ahead of me, plus 3-5 months solid study for each section – study,test, pass – repeat 4 times..

Any thinking on what I can do with an MTax and CPA, or an Mtax, while studying for my CPA

thank you all.

[Anonymous]

If you loathe Accounting, why not just become an Enrolled Agent?

They have unlimited representation rights for clients before the IRS just like CPA's do.

I'm pursuing both. And I am a veteran as well.

Saves you the pain of studying taxes, if you truly do not like Accounting, then tax will be an uphill battle

[Anonymous]

I am 2/3 way through my EA exams.. Already have that base covered my brother (or sister) 🙂

Why the CPA? because the damned public doesnt know (nor appreciate, nor recognize) what an EA designation signifies – ‘we' are tax experts. CPAs are not necessarily tax experts, EAs are recognized as such through the IRS.

So, to be accurate I will have my EA by sometime this summer, my MTax..about a year, and several months after that, a CPA, then probably some sort of mental collapse..

[Anonymous]

I'm right there with you.

I've passed Part I and II of the EA exams. Sit for Part III in December after the semester is over.

Passed FAR, waiting on REG next week..then Audit and BEC in January.

But I get what you mean the lack of recognition of Enrolled Agents. I found out about it randomly on the IRS website. They could definitely do a better marketing job.

[Anonymous]

You are already on CPA exams! I am well behind you..

I am part 1 and 3 down, part 2 not until May probably. As you know the testing windows close Feb-Apr, for the EA exams. So likely by May. Ill at least have the EA card to look at in my wallet.

What sort of practice are you leaning towards, what interests or specializations, any idea yet?

I am late 40s starting over, where in your life are you?

[Anonymous]

I was a Marine Scout Sniper. Did two tours, one to Iraq one to Afghanistan.

Got out a few years ago, used my GI Bill.. Got two Bachelors Degrees and an MBA out of it. Back at the University of Michigan doing an M.S in Finance..should be done next summer.

Looking at Law School for Tax Law next and/or a PhD in the near future.

I'm 31..Feel like I'm so far behind the power curve so I am pushing through all these degrees. I like you, do not care to be in Public Accounting more than a few years just to get some experience and the license

I really do love taxes (crazy I know), but I hope to have my own practice some day doing tax related things.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Awesome. you are well ahead of me, I am going to presume you are using Voc Rehab for JD or PhD?

With a law degree and cpa, and MBA, the world will be your oyster my brother. Awesome squared.

I too, like taxation, but loathe accounting, not crazy at all because we are on same wavelength, its those who look at us like we are crazy, who are! 🙂

[Missy]

I know zip about tax but wanted to thank you for your service! I also agree with you on pursuing the cpa, there is always a niche for EA's but there is no comparison whatsoever between the two.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Skynet]

@Christopher – I'm an EA that have passed the CPA exams. If you aren't interested in public accounting and prefer to do representation, why not become a TAX attorney and take the BAR exam. No need for the CPA. The few Tax Attorneys i have met with work for themselves and make a nice living.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your kind words, its awkward for us I think to accept thanks, for me anyways – because we all volunteered. I simply just say what I did. ‘thank you, but I volunteered, twice, but thank you for the respect…'

I agree with your sentiments – hence my decision to sit for the CPA – recognition of the designation. The “EA” is very specific to tax, and provides a recognition of specialization.

I do not necessarily compare the two. The designations carry distinctions. One is specialized ‘EA' one is complex ‘CPA' – breadth and depth not comparison. I just dread the prospect of studying and not working in the field instead.

[Anonymous]

@skynet !!!! LOL!! to sit for the bar exam – means law school, LSATS, no thank you. I have zero desire to sit through 3 years of that. Yes, representation work is my ‘feeling' – theres an advocate inside of me. I am planning to sit for the USTCP non-attorney exam November 2018.. That limits me to tax court, no criminal work which is something I would enjoy

[Anonymous]

@skynet, again, When did you sit for your CPA? how did you qualify for your 150 hours? Im have about 12 months left before completing my MTax, which will suffice for a handful of jurisdictions

[Skynet]

@Christopher – I finished my exams in 2015. My school didn't have a MACC program at that time, so i just took additional units to make up for it. Because my school was a quarter system, I had to make sure I had enough quarter units to meet the semester equivalents. I also went to a Junior College before, so some of the units should counts towards it too.

[gigabyte2001]

I was born into the US Military and am married to a Navy vet.

I have the MTAX that I got when I was in public accounting. Spent 1 more year in Public before I got offered a position with a Service Disable Veteran Owned DOD Contractor. Been here almost 11 years now. Vets generally get preferential hire at DOD contractors and your personal knowledge of the DOD will help. At my company I'm the Controller responsible for all of the following aspects:
1. Day to day financial accounting & reporting including your standard AP, Payroll, AR. However, with the exception I think of AP, everything we do is special because of Government Contracting rules (Federal Acquisition Regulations.)
2. Pricing of potential government contracts – this is a subfield in itself and again very specialized. I once had to price the cost of moving a electronics maintenance technician & his/her theoretical family, household goods etc, from somewhere to Osan AFB. No other details provided. Few people would know where to start solving that problem. As Vet's you can probably guess how I solved it.
3. Overseeing the company tax return/providing tax advice
4. Overseeing the Annual GAAP audit
5. All the specialized DOD Audits (and there are a big pile of those.)

I'd recommend looking at industry accounting in the GovCon world – particularly if you're already located near a military base. I would probably avoid the big contractors and look for a small to mid sized one. My two cents. Your mileage may vary.

B - 11/11/16
A - 4/16/16 87!!
R - 2/17/17
F - 7/26/16 - Waiting for 8/23

[Missy]

Giga some of us see FAR and immediately think of a five inch think book of government regulations instead of the cpa exam lol. At my current job I was asked if there's anything I'd refuse to do and I said CAPA data requests. Fortunately they had no idea what that was so I knew it was a good move for me!

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[gigabyte2001]

@mla LOL yeah that's been a struggle lately. When I hear “FAR” at work they usually mean the Acquisition Regs not that horrible exam!

B - 11/11/16
A - 4/16/16 87!!
R - 2/17/17
F - 7/26/16 - Waiting for 8/23

[Author]

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