Certified Public Accountant (CPA)vs. Tax Professional vs. Enrolled Agent (EA)
Check out the comparison of CPA vs. Tax Professional vs. Enrolled Agent for a complete understanding:
US CPA
CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a highly valuable professional course. Finance and accounting aspirants worldwide pursue it. The US CPA accreditation offers numerous career advantages.
Syllabus
Attestation and Auditing (AUD)
- Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, and General Principles
- Assessing Risk and Developing a Planned Response
- Performing Further Procedures and Obtaining Evidence
- Forming Conclusions and Reporting
Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Conceptual Framework
- Standard-Setting
- Financial Reporting
- Select Financial Statement Accounts
- Select Transactions
- State and Local Governments
Regulation (REG)
- Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, and Federal Tax Procedures
- Business Law
- Federal Taxation of Property Transactions
- Federal Taxation of Individuals
- Federal Taxation of Entities (including tax preparation)
Optional paper (Any one)
Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
- Business Analysis
- Technical Accounting and Reporting
- State and Local Governments
Information Systems and Controls (ICS)
- Information Systems and Data Management
- Security, Confidentiality, and Privacy
- Considerations for System and Organization Control (SOC) Engagements
Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)
- Tax Compliance
- Planning for Individuals
- Personal Financial Planning
- Entity Tax Compliance
- Entity Tax Planning
- Property Transactions (disposition of assets)
Eligibility
- 150 credit points
- Two years of relevant work experience
Scope
- Internal Auditor
- Public Accountant
- Finance Manager
- Finance Analyst
- Tax Analyst
- CFO
Cost
The US CPA cost is as follows:
- Education and Evaluation Application Fees: $90-$150
- Examination Application Fees: $1100-$1500
- CPA Exam Retake Fee: $50-$200
CPA Review Course: $1,000-$4,000
Salary
INR 7 LPA is the average fresher salary for CPAs in India.
Tax Professional
You need not take any examinations to become a tax professional. Individuals generally get into this profession right after graduation with a Commerce background. As a result, they do not possess advanced skills as certified individuals. Some individuals might pursue short courses to get introduced to the basics of the taxation field.
Syllabus
There is no fixed examination required to become a tax professional. Hence, these professionals mostly study only theoretical subjects. They pursue traditional graduation and post-graduation degrees.
Eligibility
- Undergraduate Degree
Scope
- Tax Accounting Staff
- Tax Associate
- Tax Specialist
- Tax Preparer
Cost
The cost of becoming a tax professional depends on the path you choose. If you directly get into this profession after graduation, there is no extra cost for it. However, you can pursue certain short courses for tax professionals.
Salary
INR 3.2 LPA is the average salary of a Tax Professional in India.
