Fighting State Overreach: Protecting EA Rights with Jon Call, EA

In this episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears sits down with Jon Call, Enrolled Agent and founder of CLAW Tax Group. John shares his journey from a marketing professional to a respected EA and discusses the challenges he faced while defending his practice against the Minnesota Commerce Department. His battle against the state’s debt settlement classification of EAs led to significant legislative changes and a precedent for defending the rights of federally authorized tax practitioners.

Jon's story is not just about overcoming legal challenges but also about his commitment to advocacy for EAs nationwide. He sheds light on how the NAEA's support played a crucial role in his fight, and shares valuable insights for EAs dealing with state-level legal challenges.

Why Listen

• Learn how one EA's battle changed state policy, impacting all tax practitioners.

• Understand how federal preemption protects enrolled agents from state overreach.

• Discover practical tips on handling unexpected state regulatory challenges.

• Gain insight into the importance of advocacy within the EA community.

  
  

In This Episode:

• [00:00:00] Welcome to The Enrolled Agent Advocate

• [00:00:23] Meet Jon Call: From marketing to tax representation

• [00:01:10] Jon’s journey to becoming an EA and advocate

• [00:02:06] How marketing skills shaped his tax career

• [00:06:08] Founding Claw Tax Group: Overcoming early challenges

• [00:07:58] Earning NTPI Fellow: Building expertise in representation

• [00:10:20] The Minnesota ordeal: Debt settlement conflict

• [00:13:42] Facing state vs. federal regulation conflicts

• [00:16:14] Navigating the legal battle: Federal supremacy clause

• [00:18:21] NAEA support: Legal and emotional impact

• [00:21:43] Legislative wins: Exempting EAs from debt settlement rules

• [00:24:56] Testifying before the Minnesota Tax Committee

• [00:28:17] Advice for EAs on maintaining balance during crises

• [00:32:30] Jon’s vision for the EA profession moving forward

• [00:37:10] Final thoughts: Staying resilient and advocating for change

Notable Quotes:

• "If we want people to comply, we need to make it easy for people to comply." — Jon Call

• "Circular 230 is federal authority—states can't override it." — Jon Call

• "I couldn't just stand by and let the state define our profession in a way that undermines what we do." — Jon Call

• "Advocacy means standing up, even when the odds are against you." — John Call

• "With the support of NAEA, I knew I wasn’t fighting alone." — Jon Call

Our Guest

Jon Call is the founder of CLAW Tax Group, a Minnesota-based firm focused on representing taxpayers in disputes with the IRS and state tax authorities. After a career pivot inspired by a desire to help people navigate overwhelming tax problems, Jon became an Enrolled Agent in 2012 and earned his NTPI Fellow designation in 2018. Known for resolving complex IRS collection and exam issues, he also advocates for taxpayer rights and contributes to national policy reform as part of the Government Relations Committee of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA). When not working, Jon enjoys playing pickleball with his wife and coaching his sons' baseball teams.

Resource & Links