Federally licensed. Not a CPA.
An Enrolled Agent is federally licensed to prepare returns and represent taxpayers before the IRS — the highest credential the IRS awards, with unlimited representation rights for the types of work EAs handle.
Oskar is an EA. He is not a CPA and not a tax attorney. The credential is federal (tax), not a state attest license. That distinction matters when you hire for representation versus when a bank asks for an audited statement.
If a notice or exam shows up, the same person who signed the return can represent you
Routine IRS and state notice response for periods Elev8 prepares is included in published tiers. Formal examination, appeals, or collections representation is scoped and quoted as a separate engagement. We do not promise outcomes. We show up with the file.
Planning all year, not a February dump
Most tax bills are decided long before filing season — in how the year was structured, timed, and documented. We work the return all year so April is paperwork.
Business & owner returns together
For owner-operators they are the same financial life.
Quarterly estimates from live books
Not a prior-year guess.
Entity and timing before the deal
Planning questions, not a form you pick in March.
Multi-state: TX, NM, CO
Including cross-border work and LLC formation for owners abroad — full detail on tax services.
A straight comparison
| IRS Enrolled Agent (Elev8) | CPA firm | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Federal IRS credential | State license |
| Tax prep & planning | Yes | Often yes |
| Represent you before the IRS | Yes — purpose-built | Often, depending on the firm |
| Audit, review, compilation | No — Elev8 does not perform attest | May, if the firm does attest |
| Fractional CFO (cash, margin, KPIs) | Yes — fractional CFO | Sometimes a different department |
If a lender requires an audited statement, you need a CPA firm that performs attest — that is not Elev8. No audit, review, or compilation; no assurance expressed, including on packages furnished to lenders.
Same firm as the books and the filings
Representation is weaker when the ledger is a mess.
Questions, answered
Is an Enrolled Agent the same as a CPA? +
No. A CPA is a state license that can include attest work. An Enrolled Agent is a federal IRS credential focused on tax preparation, planning, and representation before the IRS. Elev8's founder is an EA, not a CPA, and the firm does not issue audits, reviews, or compilations.
Can you represent me before the IRS? +
Yes. As an Enrolled Agent, Oskar is federally licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
Do you only prepare business returns? +
No. Business and individual/owner returns are prepared together, because for owner-operators they are the same financial life.
Do you handle Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado returns? +
Yes. Multi-state filings are in-scope, including cross-border work.
What if I was looking for a CPA for bookkeeping and CFO help? +
Bookkeeping, payroll/1099s, and fractional CFO are offered directly. You do not need a CPA title for those. If a bank requires an audited statement, you need a CPA firm that performs attest — that is not Elev8.
How do fees work? +
Flat retainers on service tiers: Essentials $1,450, Advisory $2,750, CFO $4,500. Tax representation on an active IRS matter is scoped in discovery.