Dedicated offshore tax preparers for firms that focus exclusively on tax compliance. Enrolled agents, tax resolution firms, franchise tax offices, and tax-prep-only practices get the same infrastructure that full-service CPA firms use – tuned for firms that don't do audit or full CAS.
Who this fits
EA-led tax practices looking to take on more returns without hiring locally. Offshore preparers fit cleanly under IRS Circular 230 supervision by a licensed EA.
Firms doing IRS resolution, installment agreements, offers in compromise, and representation work. Offshore staff handle transcript analysis, balance calculations, and Form 656 package preparation.
Tax boutique firms – expat tax, high-net-worth individual, multi-state entity – that want to expand capacity without diluting the partner-review quality model.
Tax firms have a specific operational advantage when moving work offshore: the work is inherently seasonal, well-scoped, and documentation-heavy. A 1040 has a known input set (W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, brokerage statements, prior-year return) and a known output (filed return). An audit engagement has fuzzy boundaries that make offshore integration harder; a tax return doesn't.
This means offshore tax staffing is usually the easiest service line to launch and the one that shows ROI fastest. Most tax-only firms we work with see:
Enrolled Agents are federally-licensed tax practitioners subject to IRS Circular 230. The §7216 consent requirement applies identically to EAs as to CPAs – written client consent is required before tax return information is disclosed to an offshore preparer. We provide template consent language that works for EA-led firms; most firms fold it into their engagement letters.
Under Circular 230, the signing preparer (the EA or CPA) remains responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the return. Offshore preparers work under the direct supervision of a licensed US practitioner who reviews every return before filing. This is the standard model for every firm we serve and matches IRS expectations for third-party preparer use.
For tax resolution firms (installment agreements, OIC, penalty abatement, audit representation), offshore staff handle the production work: pulling and analyzing IRS transcripts, calculating reasonable collection potential, drafting Form 656 packages, preparing Forms 433-A/B/F. The client-facing negotiation and the signed representation stays with your licensed US practitioner. Typical engagement: one senior offshore tax resolution specialist handles 40–60 active cases.
For full tax prep service details see offshore tax preparation. For the broader context on how offshore accounting works, see our homepage.
FAQ
Yes. Circular 230 places responsibility on the signing preparer, not the support preparer. EAs routinely use offshore preparation staff under their supervision – the EA reviews and signs, the offshore preparer drafts. Same framework as CPA firms.
Franchise offices operate under corporate compliance frameworks that sometimes prohibit third-party preparation. Independent tax offices and non-franchise tax firms are our main client base in this segment.
UltraTax, Lacerte, ProConnect, Drake, TaxSlayer Pro, CCH Axcess, ATX, ProSystem fx. Drake is especially popular with EA-led firms; UltraTax and Lacerte dominate CPA firms. Our preparers segment by software.
Yes. 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T for unrelated business income. Nonprofit tax work is a common specialization.
Typically per-case pricing for installment agreements, OIC, and similar work. A senior offshore tax resolution specialist on a dedicated seat handles 40–60 cases at $2,800–$3,600/month. Per-case pricing for lower volume.
Yes. Multi-state apportionment, expat returns (Forms 2555, 1116, FBAR, Form 8938), and entity structures are standard. We match preparers with the specific niche experience your firm needs.