As an Enrolled Agent, Carol is licensed by the government to represent taxpayers in interactions with the IRS. She also gives tax advice and prepares tax returns for individuals and businesses.

Her advice for people who get that dreaded letter from the IRS? Don’t panic. Get an expert on your side.

“People don’t realize there’s help for them when they get in trouble with the IRS,” she says. “We’re licensed by the IRS so people can get help from somebody who knows what the IRS is allowed to do and not allowed to do.”

To become an Enrolled Agent, Calhoon passed a rigorous examination covering all aspects of the tax law. She also must complete 72 hours of continuing professional education every three years to keep abreast of changes in the tax laws.

In contrast, Washington State doesn’t require professional tax preparers to have a license or any particular training.

Calhoon became an Enrolled Agent in 1999 after 20 years of professional experience in bookkeeping and accounting in Boston, California, and Redmond.

“When I started to do taxes,” she explains, “I didn’t want to do it halfway. I wanted to have the expertise to get the best possible tax outcome for my clients.”

Her clients appreciate her technical expertise, her friendly personality, and her involvement in the community. Calhoon enjoys singing with the local folk group the Jubilee Singers, and she serves as director and tax matters member for FARM LLC, a group, dedicated to protecting local farmland, that founded and operates The South 47 Farm. She lives in Redmond with her husband.