ADVOCACY

CSEA advocates for the rights of Enrolled Agents and taxpayers before all state and legislative and regulatory agencies. While the Society’s advocacy efforts are aimed at legislation and regulation that protect the rights of EAs to practice in California, we advocate for efficient and effective tax administration as well. We maintain strong, strategic relationships with the agencies that make decisions impacting Enrolled Agents and the tax industry such as:

  • Internal Revenue Service  (IRS)
  • Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
  • California Department of Tax & Fee Administration (CDTFA)
  • Board of Equalization (BOE)
  • Employment Development Department (EDD)
  • California Board of Accountancy (CBA)
  • California Tax Education Council (CTEC)

We have cultivated an effective presence in the State Capitol through:

  • Grassroots Lobbying
  • Annual Stern/Mulak Advocacy "Week"
  • STALM - State Tax Agency Liaison Meeting (annual)
  • FTB Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TBOR) Hearing

Want to know more about our advocacy efforts and successes?  
   Check out the video by Jennifer Tannehill, our lobbyist from Aaron Read & Associates, on the Legislative Action Fund page of this website!

Your contributions to the Legislative Action Fund (LAF) help support all legislative activities. 

Grassroots Advocacy Event - May 2025

CSEA’s Tax Advocacy Committee (TAC) will be organizing local district visits with your legislators in May 2025. The May district visits are in-person meetings. Legislators are on spring break in May and are usually in their district offices, especially on Fridays.

All the hard work will be done by TAC and our lobbyist, Jennifer Tannehill of Aaron Read, and Associates, so you can relax and enjoy your visit with your legislator and/or staff. Similar to our Stern/Mulak Advocacy Event in January, TAC will provide you with a leave-behind packet with all the information you need for your visit. This is a members only event. Appointments will be made for you and there will be an orientation on May 16, 2025 at 9:00 am via Zoom.

To participate you will need to register, however there is no fee for participation. Once registered we will work with you on availability in order to set up your appointment with the district office. Registration will open soon.

In the meantime, take a look at CSEA’s Grassroots Advocacy Guide . It’s short and full of the basics you’ll need to know. 

 
 

Legislative Platform - Position Statements 

Our Legislative Platform is established by Board-approved position statements that address a myriad of tax administration issues.  These issues provide the guidance for your Legislative Affairs Committee to apply as they review all newly introduced legislation, determine its relevancy, and assign a level of action to take, if any.  Levels of action include Support, Oppose, Neutral/No Action, or Watch.  The current approved position statements are provided below, or you can download a copy here:  Current Position Statements

  1. TheCalifornia SocietyofEnrolledAgents,consistentwith theMissionStatementofthe Society, willstriveto protectandenhancethe interestsof thoseEnrolled Agents engagedin providing fundamental andprofessional taxbasisaccountingservices.

  2. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents supports legislationandregulationthatpromotesfair andeffectivetaxpolicywhich reducestaxpayerburdenandopposeslegislationor regulationwhich wouldinhibitor limit fairandeffectivetaxpolicyandincreasetaxpayerburden.

  3. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents opposes conformitytotaxreforms thatwouldlimitthe abilitytoclaimpersonalitemized deductions, deductionforalimonypaid,or anysimilar proposalthat wouldplacean additional taxburden onmanyCalifornia taxpayers.

  4. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents believes thatCalifornia lawandCalifornia Tax& Enforcement agenciesoughttoconformtofederal lawas itrelatestopayroll taxandthedefinitionof employeevs. independentcontractorstatus.

  5. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents supports andencouragestheprotectionsoftaxpayer rights per theTaxpayer’s BillofRights , asitwas intended byCalifornia law,andmaintainingthosesame protectionseven uponthe disbandingor dissolutionof newtaxadministrationagencies,provided that all ofthe privilegesandrightsafforded toall practitionersgovernedbyTreasuryDepartmentCircular 230remainineffect.

  6. TheCalifornia Societyof EnrolledAgents supports theconceptofconsolidated collectionof California taxliabilities.

  7. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents supportsamnestyforCaliforniataxpayerstocomeinto compliancewith anyCalifornia Codeandopposesanyinconsistent policiesamongCalifornia taxand regulatoryagenciesthatrestrictor confound taxpayers’ abilityto becomecompliant.

  8. TheCalifornia SocietyofEnrolledAgentssupportslegislationorregulationintended tocombat identitytheft,data breaches,cyber-crime,and otherscamsagainsttaxpayers,taxpreparers,and government agencies,provided thatsuchregulationdoesnotinhibit Enrolled Agentsfromeffectively representingtaxpayers.

  9. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agentssupports legislationor regulationwhichenhances theabilityof professional associationstoservetheinterestsof theirmembersandopposeslegislationand regulationwhich wouldinhibitor limittheir abilitiestoservetheinterestsoftheirmembers.

  10. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents opposes sales/usetaxesonpersonal services.

  11. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents opposes personal incometaxwithholdingon independent contractors.

  12. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents opposes taxagencies collectinganyinformationother thantax information

  13. TheCalifornia Societyof Enrolled Agents opposes anyretroactivetax increases.

(Revised by the Board of Directors January 9, 2022).

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