For their part, many of those companies argued that their own standards, including exams and education, were much more stringent than those proposed by the IRS. The IRS agreed and exempted preparers who are 18 years old or older and both employed and supervised by a CPA, attorney, enrolled agent or other Circular 230 practitioner who actually signs the tax returns ( IRS notice downloads as a pdf).

FORBES: IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance