Christopher LaBelle
In 2022, I opened my own tax preparation business Quick & Easy Tax Prep. My goal is to provide high quality tax preparation for a reasonable price. I want to take the stress out of the tax season by helping people anticipate their return results.
My previous experiences in the financial and business sectors have given me the knowledge, problem-solving skills, and expertise to be the best tax preparer for your individual needs.
After graduating College in 1997 with a degree in business finance, I started a career in Mortgage and Real Estate.
I had an amazing 20 year career helping individuals qualify for home financing.
In December of 2016, my wife and I had our 2nd child. We decided that I should be a stay-at-home parent to our children (a 1-year-old and a newborn). I took on that role with the intention of looking for work that could be done from home or on a part-time basis.
At the end of 2017, I began to take tax courses through the H&R Block training program. I successfully completed the course and passed the Professional Tax Preparer Certification test. I then began working for H&R Block. Starting tax work in 2018 had its challenges because of President Donald Trump’s complete overhaul to the tax code. Not only did I have to learn the new code, but I had to understand the old code as well.
January 2018 to April 2018 was my first full tax season and I absolutely loved it, but I was only a limited representative. After the season was over, I decided to continue learning to become an unlimited preparer for the next tax season. I completed courses and studied tax codes in order to pass the three tests required to be an Enrolled Agent with the IRS, called the Special Enrollment Examination.
The following describe the primary differences between a limited Preparer and an Unlimited preparer:
By the end of 2018, I had passed all the necessary exams for the IRS and became an Enrolled Agent able to fully represent all my clients before the IRS. From 2019-2021 I continued to work with H&R Block gaining valuable experience until I could open my own practice in 2022.
After graduating College in 1997 with a degree in business finance, I started a career in Mortgage and Real Estate.
I had an amazing 20 year career helping individuals qualify for home financing.
In December of 2016, my wife and I had our 2nd child. We decided that I should be a stay-at-home parent to our children (a 1-year-old and a newborn). I took on that role with the intention of looking for work that could be done from home or on a part-time basis.
At the end of 2017, I began to take tax courses through the H&R Block training program. I successfully completed the course and passed the Professional Tax Preparer Certification test. I then began working for H&R Block. Starting tax work in 2018 had its challenges because of President Donald Trump’s complete overhaul to the tax code. Not only did I have to learn the new code, but I had to understand the old code as well.
January 2018 to April 2018 was my first full tax season and I absolutely loved it, but I was only a limited representative. After the season was over, I decided to continue learning to become an unlimited preparer for the next tax season. I completed courses and studied tax codes in order to pass the three tests required to be an Enrolled Agent with the IRS, called the Special Enrollment Examination.
The following describe the primary differences between a limited Preparer and an Unlimited preparer:
- Enrolled agents, certified public accountants, and attorneys have unlimited representation rights before the IRS. Tax professionals with these credentials may represent their clients on any matters including audits, payment/collection issues, and appeals.
- Some preparers without one of the above credentials have limited practice rights. They may only represent clients whose returns they prepared and signed, but only before revenue agents, customer service representatives, and similar IRS employees, including the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They cannot represent clients whose returns they did not prepare, and they cannot represent clients regarding appeals or collection issues even if they did prepare the return in question.
- Many tax return preparers, even ones that work for companies like Jackson Hewitt, H&R Block, and Liberty Tax, are PTIN Holders. These are preparers who have an active preparer tax identification number, but no professional credentials and do not participate in the Annual Filing Season Program.
By the end of 2018, I had passed all the necessary exams for the IRS and became an Enrolled Agent able to fully represent all my clients before the IRS. From 2019-2021 I continued to work with H&R Block gaining valuable experience until I could open my own practice in 2022.