Why pay CPA prices when you can hire an EA instead?
An Enrolled Agent is licensed directly by the IRS, not a state board. For tax preparation and IRS representation, an EA has the same authority as a CPA. TrustNRI's US tax practice is built around that credential.
What each credential actually covers
CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Licensed by a state board
EA
Enrolled Agent
Licensed by the IRS, federal
Same authority on tax work. The difference is scope, not authority.
Why the cost is different
Illustrative, based on published US CPA rate ranges. TrustNRI's own rate is confirmed at booking, not fixed here.
A CPA's rate reflects a license built for the full scope of public accounting: audits, attestation and financial statements, in addition to tax. An Enrolled Agent's practice, ours included, is built around tax exclusively, and delivered from India. Both of those, the narrower scope and where the work happens, are why the cost comes down without the authority coming down with it.
Get in touch for a quote specific to your filing. Pricing isn't listed here because it depends on the return.
Which one you actually need
- Tax only, no matter how complex: filing, an IRS notice, an audit, back taxes. An EA gives you the same authority as a CPA for this, at a lower cost.
- Audited financials, attestation, or a broader accounting relationship beyond tax: that's CPA territory. It's not what an EA's license covers, and not what this page or TrustNRI's US practice offers.
- US citizen or Green Card holder with income, property or family still in India: this is the sharpest fit. One relationship handles FBAR, FATCA Form 8938, PFIC treatment on Indian mutual funds, and keeps your US return consistent with any DTAA position you're taking on the India side, instead of two advisors who never talk to each other.
Questions
Is an Enrolled Agent as qualified as a CPA for tax work?
For tax preparation and IRS representation specifically, yes. An EA has the same unlimited practice rights before the IRS as a CPA. The difference is scope, not authority: a CPA's license also covers audit and attestation work, which an EA's does not.
Can an Enrolled Agent represent me in an IRS audit?
Yes. Enrolled Agents have unlimited representation rights before the IRS, the same as a CPA or an attorney, at any stage from filing through audit, collections and appeals.
Why is this cheaper than a CPA firm?
Two things stack. The practice is built around tax only, not the full scope of public accounting a CPA license covers, and the work is delivered from India. Neither changes the authority on your return.
Do I need to be an NRI or of Indian origin to use this?
No. This covers US tax filing and IRS representation for any US taxpayer. NRIs and Green Card holders with income or assets in India get extra value from one relationship coordinating both sides, but that's not a requirement.
Can an Enrolled Agent help with FBAR and FATCA for NRIs or Green Card holders?
Yes, that's the sharpest fit for this service. An Enrolled Agent can prepare your FBAR (FinCEN 114) and FATCA Form 8938, handle PFIC treatment on Indian mutual funds, and keep your US return consistent with any DTAA position taken on the India side, all from one relationship instead of two advisors who never talk to each other.
Is TrustNRI a CPA firm?
No. TrustNRI's US tax practice is delivered through a partnership with licensed IRS Enrolled Agents, not CPAs. For tax preparation and representation, an EA's authority is the same as a CPA's; we don't offer audit or attestation services, which sit under a CPA's broader license.