On July 7, 1884, Enrolled Agents were first given statutory authority to represent claimants before the Treasury Department. The “Enabling Act” provided that Enrolled Agents could represent citizens in claims against the army and administration of the temporary income tax, which was created to finance the Civil War. Another short-lived tax act was passed by Congress in 1894 and ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1895. In 1913 the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution provided for the modern federal income tax. It was not until 1965 that CPAs were allowed to represent taxpayers before the IRS without enrollment. Our unique heritage, combined with the fact that there are just over 30,000 Enrolled Agents in practice, distinguishes us as the premier representatives of taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, as well as other taxing authorities.
On November 20, 1982 a group of eleven Enrolled Agents voted to form the Massachusetts Association of Enrolled Agents. Founders of this new entity were: William Burke, Joseph Cass, Barbara Durkin, John Gordan, Stanley Green, Edward Hannifan, Elton Holden, Robert Markowitz, Richard Namenson, John Pajer, and Ralph Stroffolino.
The Massachusetts Society of Enrolled Agents became a chartered affiliate of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the organization of and for Enrolled Agents. From its formation the MaSEA has enjoyed exponential growth in membership and been blessed with outstanding leadership.
Our mission is to position Enrolled Agents to successfully serve their clients.