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Iam sure there are several out there who knew it was inevitable that I wouldpost my comments on the item “343,020 Reasons CPAs Should Talk Up Their Tax Expertise Now” by Jina Etienne, CPA, Director of Taxation of the AmericanInstitute of CPAs, at AICPA Insights - and have been waiting with baitedbreath.
Well– here it is!
Jinaexplains in the piece - “While CPAs havedominated the regulated tax preparation arena, that landscape is about tochange.”  Thank the Lord that it is! 
AndJina tells us –
“Unfortunately, the public doesn’t reallyunderstand the difference between a CPA and other tax return preparers.” 
Iwholeheartedly agree with this statement, but not in the way Jina intended.  The public, and most journalists, have foryears believed the totally untrue “urban tax myth” that a CPA was automaticallya 1040 tax expert. 
Articlesand columns on 1040 topics constantly suggest that readers “consult your CPA” when they mean “consult your tax professional”.  The two terms are not interchangeable! 
Howmany times do I have to say this?  Just because a person has the initials CPAafter his/her name does not mean that he/she knows his/her arse from a hole inthe ground when it comes to 1040 preparation.
The CPA exam is not atest of 1040 knowledge or competence.  I doubt there are any questions on the examthat have to do with 1040 preparation.  Iexpect any tax questions on a CPA exam are concerned with “entity” taxation(corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts).  TheCPA exam is certainly no substitute for the initial competency exam now requiredof “previously unenrolled” tax preparers.
Andwhile CPAs are required to maintain a designated number of hours of annualcontinuing professional education, thereis no requirement that any of this CPE be in federal 1040 taxation.
However,CPAs should be afraid, very afraid, of the new Registered Tax Return Preparer(RTRP) designation.
Itis not that there are all of a sudden tens of thousands of new tax preparers to“compete” with the CPA.  There havealways been hundreds of thousands of educated, experienced, and highlycompetent “unenrolled” preparers(like me) out there (often having to fixmistakes made on 1040s by CPAs). Actually the new regulation regime has, and will, actually reduce thenumber of non-EA and non-CPA preparers.
Whatthe new designation will do is affirm the fact that those who earn it have proventhemselves competent in 1040 preparation, and remain current by taking annualCPE in federal taxation each year.  Itwill indicate to the public that these individuals, and not CPAs, are proven,if not tax experts, at least competent tax professionals.

CPAs are currently exempt from having to prove basic tax competence by taking the IRS exam and are exempt from having to remain current in tax knowledge by taking at least 15 hours per year of CPE in federal taxation.  Yet the IRS says it is ok for CPAs to prepare tax returns - while the rest of us must go through the hoops.  There is no good reason for exempting CPAs who want to prepare 1040s for a fee from these requirements.

Many EAs, who are also exempt, and for good reason, from the RTRP test, are actually sitting for it so that they can add the initials RTRP to their name.  This is because of the widespread public confusion about what an EA is.  If a CPA wants to be held out as a tax expert he/she should sit for the exam, maintain 15 hours per year in federal taxation CPE, and get the RTRP credential.
Jinawants clients to know that “their CPA isthe premier provider of tax services”. While “their” CPA may indeed be a tax expert – it has nothing whatsoeverto do with the presence of the initials CPA.   It isonly because of the education, training, experience, ability, temperament, andother factors that are specific to that individual preparer.
TheRTRP, and the EA, are the premier providers of tax services – not the CPA!
TTFN