Looks like Abigail Van Buren should stick to etiquette and relationships and leave the tax advice to the pros.

In a recent column, the advice columnist told a reader that enrolled agents “are the only tax specialists licensed to practice before the IRS.”

Um, wrong.

A sharp-sighted CPA caught the error and alerted officials at the AICPA, who quickly drafted a Dear Abby letter of their own and CC'd state CPA societies from coast to coast. It reads as follows:

Dear Ms. Van Buren:

Your response to “Phobic” about her boyfriend’s tax returns contained a significant error. You characterized enrolled agents as “the only tax specialists licensed to practice before the IRS,” which is not true. The fact is, certified public accountants and attorneys are federally authorized to represent clients before the IRS.

The CPA has long been synonymous with reliable, objective tax preparation and ranks as the preferred tax professional among millions of U.S. taxpayers.

On behalf of the many CPAs who prepare tax returns every year, we would be appreciative if you would print a correction in your column.

Tom Ochsenschlager
Vice President, Taxation
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Way to go, AICPA. And readers, help us keep an eye on Dear Abby's column and alert us if you see a correction.