BLADENBORO — James Ronald Hester recently successfully completed the special enrollment exam governed by the Internal Revenue Service and passed a thorough background check to earn his enrolled agent license.

Hester joins more than 40,000 enrolled agents as one of “America’s tax experts,” and is the only enrolled agent in Bladen County.

Enrolled agents are a diverse group of independent, federally authorized tax practitioners who have demonstrated a high level of technical competence in tax and are licensed to practice by the U.S. government. Enrolled agents advise and represent taxpayers before the IRS, including taxpayers who are being examined, are unable to pay or are trying to avoid or recover penalties. Enrolled agents also prepare tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts and any other entities with tax-reporting requirements.

Hester is now a member in good standing of the National Association of Enrolled Agents.

Staff report