Northridge, CA (ContentDesk) June 29, 2006 -- It's 95° F in the Valley, phones are ringing off the hook - and TaxMama just got the word out to IRS exam candidates that the Special Enrollment Examination specifications have been released - and that TaxMama's Online EA Exam Review Course is accepting new students for the Summer 2006 course at www.irsexam.com .For decades, a determined group of tax professionals has tried to pass the IRS's rigorous tax examination to achieve the coveted Enrolled Agent (EA) license. The exam is so hard that 60% of candidates tend to fail. And it has traditionally been offered only once a year, in September.In fact, it's such a hard exam, that this year, IRS turned over the design and administration of the exam to Thomson Prometric, a Maryland-based testing provider. Prometric's mission was to computerize the exam and to make it available several times a year.But how the exam will be structured, on what source documents it would be based, and when the exam would be offered have all been a mystery due to a variety of delays.The tax world has been in a dither, waiting for the delayed release of the new specifications for this year's exam. Potential candidates have been incessantly calling and e-mailing Eva Rosenberg, the Director of TaxMama's Online EA Exam Review Course.

TaxMama offers the first and only live, interactive course with students spanning at least 6 time zones (Hawaii to Maine) and instructors spanning 11 time zones (California to Portugal).Students meet together in an online classroom, where they may ask questions out loud, submit text questions, get copies of documents and files, and generally get all the benefits of a real school - without driving or sitting in traffic.With Rosenberg's very personal touch, the students are paired up with study buddies, who might be local or across the world - but can meet with them in online study rooms. Not only do these students pass the Special Enrollment Exam, but they develop long-term friendships and professional contacts.Who qualifies to take this Special Exam? Anyone who has sufficient expertise in taxation to pass it.That means:* No degree is required - great for folks who are really bright, have good math skills, but have no formal education.* No minimum age - so even high school or college students who want to study their hearts out to learn taxation may take the exam.* No maximum age - many retirees needing to supplement their income, or needing mental stimulation become enrolled agents.* No citizenship requirement - you don't need to be a U.S. citizen or green card holder.* No residency requirement - you don't even have to live in the U.S. You could live and work overseas and represent your countryfolk who've returned from working in the U.S.You just really, really need to know a lot about all areas of taxation, including individuals, small businesses, corporations, estates, trusts, audits, collections, penalties, Tax Court and more.A career as an Enrolled Agent provides independence, since you can open your own tax practice. It provides respect - IRS and most state agencies recognize the license and will accept a Power of Attorney from Enrolled Agents.

Opens up job options, as more and more corporations and accounting offices welcome Enrolled Agents into their tax departments.And best of all, the EA license provides mobility. Unlike CPAs or attorneys who are licensed by their state societies, the EA designation is national - in fact, international. An EA may practice anywhere in the United States, or even overseas, to represent taxpayers in audit or collections situations, and to prepare their tax returns.For more information on becoming an Enrolled Agent, please visit TaxMama's EA Exam Review Course at www.irsexam.com . The next live class starts on August 5th - and the Early Bird registration rates expire on July 9th..