A Certified Public Accountant is a state-licensed accounting professional. The CPA credential is significant—but it is broader than tax preparation and tax planning.
A broad accounting profession
CPAs may work in auditing, financial reporting, accounting, consulting, taxation, systems, industry, government, education, or other specialties. That breadth is a strength of the profession, but it also means the letters CPA do not tell a consumer how much tax work the individual actually performs.
Some CPAs are tax specialists; others are not
The correct consumer question is not “Is this person a CPA?” but “What portion of this CPA’s current practice is tax, and how much experience does the person have with my kind of tax situation?”
When a CPA may be the logical starting point
If you need financial statement audit, review, compilation, accounting, or related services in addition to tax work, a CPA firm may provide the combination you need. If your need is primarily federal tax compliance, planning, or IRS representation, compare the CPA’s actual tax practice with other tax-focused professionals, including Enrolled Agents.