California Society of Enrolled Agents
A Brief History

“Men and women make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.” – Harry S Truman

The true history of the California Society of Enrolled Agents is the story of the dedicated men and women who contributed so much to the success of this organization: the Enrolled Agents who decided that there are certain ideals worth striving for, and that those ideals are more readily attainable as a group than as an individual. These ideals are summed up in the Society’s stated Mission: to foster the professionalism, business development, and personal growth of its Members, to protect their individual interests, and to enhance the awareness and role of the Enrolled Agent among members of the public, other professions and with governmental agencies. John W. Gardner said that “History never looks like history when you are living through it,” and I am certain that none of the men and women who worked so hard to create and sustain this Society stopped to think of whether or not posterity would remember them. It is to those individuals who actually wrote the history of this association and who continue to write it every day that this retrospective is respectfully dedicated.

Click on a link below to read the year-by-year history of CSEA.

I. Pre-1980 An organization devoted to California Enrolled Agents is founded and incorporated, and fights and wins early battles to protect EAs and promote their professional designation.

II. 1980-1989 The Society's membership passes 1,000, a monthly publication entitled California Enrolled Agent magazine begins publishing, CSEA offices are established on Ramos Circle in Sacramento, and an educational event called the Super Seminar begins as an emergency fund-raiser; by the end of the decade, it's a three-day event.

III. 1990-1999 The CSEA Public Disaster Service Task Force is formed, the first Tax Boat sails, the Society establishes its own website and Find an EA program, and the office's mortgage goes up in smoke.

IV. 2000-2007 The Society passes a new Vision Statement, membership passes 4,000, the Society celebrates its 25th and 30th anniversaries, C-STAR and the Tax Practice Management Institute are established, new membership categories are created, color is added to California Enrolled Agent magazine, and the monthly electronic CSEA BEAcon is created.

Henry Ford said, “The only history that is worth a tinker's damn is the history we made today.” While it is appropriate – and vital! – to review the Society’s past, appreciate the effort expended and celebrate the goals achieved, it is more important to rededicate ourselves, Members and staff, to building upon this foundation and ensuring that the greatest part of our contribution to the history of the Society is the future!