Morganton accountant earns IRS enrolled agent credential

A Morganton accountant has earned one of the IRS’s top tax credentials, giving Burke County clients a stronger local resource for tax planning, compliance and representation in disputes with the federal government.

Richey May North Carolina announced May 13 that Andrew Sexton, a senior accountant in its Morganton office, and Tanner Rockett, a senior accountant in its Hickory office, have earned the Enrolled Agent designation from the Internal Revenue Service.

For local readers, the practical impact is straightforward. Enrolled agents are federally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS in matters including audits, collections and appeals, meaning individuals and businesses in Burke County now have another locally based tax professional with that authority.

The enrolled agent credential is the highest tax-related credential awarded by the IRS, according to the company’s announcement. To earn it, candidates must pass a three-part examination covering individual and business tax returns, representation, practices and procedures, unless they qualify through prior IRS experience. They also must complete continuing education to maintain the credential.

Sexton works as a senior accountant in the Morganton office. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Science in accounting, according to the release. He lives in Morganton.

Rockett is a senior accountant in the firm’s Hickory office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Appalachian State University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. He lives in Hickory with his wife, Peyton, and son, Kyren.

The company said the new designations expand Richey May North Carolina’s ability to provide tax planning, compliance and representation services to individuals and businesses across the state. For Burke County, Sexton’s designation gives the Morganton office added depth in a field where credentials can matter when taxpayers are dealing directly with the IRS.

Richey May North Carolina serves clients across the state.

— AVN