United States · Licensing examHow do you verify an enrolled agent?
- Open the IRS’s Contact the Office of Enrollment form.
- Under the type of request, choose “I am requesting information about an enrolled agent”.
- Send it. The Office of Enrollment aims to answer within 72 hours, though heavy demand can slow that down.
The form isn’t for checking whether someone is an IRS employee.
How does the IRS enrolled agent lookup work?
The directory lists attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, enrolled retirement plan agents and enrolled actuaries who have a valid PTIN, plus Annual Filing Season Program participants. You can search by ZIP code, by last name or by credential, and sort the results. Each entry shows the preparer’s name, city, state, ZIP code and credentials.
That’s also how to find enrolled agents in California, Michigan, Texas or any other state: search by ZIP code. The IRS licenses enrolled agents, so there’s no separate state license to look up.
What the directory doesn’t show
- Paid preparers with no credential who haven’t completed the Annual Filing Season Program.
- Preparers who chose to opt out.
- Very recent changes. It’s updated weekly, but new or changed details can take up to four weeks to appear.
- A listing for an AFSP participant doesn’t mean that preparer holds a professional credential.
Checking your own listing
If you’re an enrolled agent, your entry comes from your PTIN account. Log in at irs.gov/ptin and choose Edit Account Information to update your details or use the Preparer Directory Opt Out/In option. Without an online PTIN account, call the PTIN Helpline.
Sources: IRS and 3 more. Checked October 2026.
- IRS: Verify the status of an enrolled agent ↗
- IRS: FAQs, Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers ↗
- IRS: How to use the tax return preparer directory (video script) ↗
- IRS: Understanding tax return preparer credentials and qualifications ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.