About the firm
James Cox III, Enrolled Agent: the person behind Cox Accounting
Cox Accounting & Financial Services, Inc. is a Raleigh accounting firm run by James Cox III, an IRS Enrolled Agent, a 12-year Marine Corps veteran and a North Carolina native. If you have been searching for an enrolled agent near me in Raleigh, this is the office. Clients describe him as patient, direct and someone who plays by the book.
James Cox III, EA
Founder and IRS Enrolled Agent
James grew up in North Carolina, served twelve years in the United States Marine Corps, and came home to build an accounting practice in Raleigh. He incorporated Cox Accounting & Financial Services in 2014 after years of working with small business owners as a sole practitioner, and today the firm serves individuals, families and small businesses across Wake County and the Triangle.
He is an Enrolled Agent, licensed by the IRS to represent taxpayers before it on any matter. He is not a CPA and does not claim to be; the EA credential is the one built for tax work and for dealing with the IRS on a client’s behalf, which is where most of his day goes. The differences are spelled out in EA vs CPA, explained.
Outside the firm, James serves as Finance Director for a nonprofit, the kind of role that keeps an accountant honest about what a budget looks like from the inside.
What an Enrolled Agent is, and why it matters to you
Enrolled Agent is the only tax credential issued by the federal government. To earn it, James passed the IRS Special Enrollment Examination, a three-part test on individual taxation, business taxation, and representation and ethics, and cleared an IRS background check. To keep it, he completes continuing education every year. The license carries unlimited practice rights: he can represent any taxpayer, on any tax matter, before any IRS office, in any state.
In practice that means the person who prepares your return is also the person who answers the IRS if a letter arrives, and the person who sits in the audit so you do not have to. Every active Enrolled Agent is listed in the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials, where you can check any preparer’s standing by name and ZIP code.
How James works
- PlainlyClients use the words patient and clear. Every return and every plan is explained before it is filed.
- By the bookOne review put it best: not the guy who bends the rules for a bigger refund. That is also why his clients so rarely hear from the IRS.
- PersonallyYou talk to James. Questions get answered through the year, not just in April.
Who the firm serves
Individuals and families with returns from the simple to the complicated: rentals, investments, multiple states, side businesses. Small business owners who need books kept, payroll run and business returns prepared by one firm. People and businesses with an IRS problem who need someone licensed to fix it. The client list leans toward auto repair shops, contractors and restaurants, but every trade is welcome.
The office
4030 Wake Forest Rd, Ste 300, Raleigh, NC 27609, in North Raleigh with free on-site parking and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Open Monday to Wednesday 9 am to 5 pm and Thursday 9 am to 1 pm, by appointment. Clients across Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Clayton, Durham and Chapel Hill work with the firm in person or entirely online.
What clients say
James is an amazing person and accountant. He is very patient and kind. He has done our taxes for 10 years and we've had all the changes and extras.
James has been a lifesaver to me and my small business. He has helped me transform from being a mess into being organized and under control. His knowledge and expertise has helped me save thousands and create a structure for my business and personal accounting that is manageable and makes sense.
Quick and reliable, responsive and informative. This is not the guy who is going to bend the rules to get you a bigger refund, he plays by the book and you can count on him standing beside you.
Questions clients ask
What is an Enrolled Agent?
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax practitioner licensed by the United States Treasury after passing the IRS Special Enrollment Examination, a three-part exam covering individual taxation, business taxation and representation. EAs hold unlimited practice rights before the IRS, must pass a background check, and complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years.
Is James a CPA?
No. James is an Enrolled Agent. The EA license is federal, issued by the IRS, and is specific to taxation and representation. A CPA license is issued by a state board and covers accounting and auditing more broadly. For tax preparation and IRS matters, the EA is the credential designed for the job.
Does James work with individuals or only businesses?
Both. The firm prepares personal returns for families and individuals across the Raleigh area and provides bookkeeping, payroll, tax and consulting for small businesses, with particular depth in auto repair, construction and restaurants.
Where is the office?
4030 Wake Forest Rd, Ste 300, Raleigh, NC 27609, with free on-site parking and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Appointments are available Monday to Wednesday 9 am to 5 pm and Thursday 9 am to 1 pm, in person or online.
The next step
Work with an accountant who answers the phone
Tell James what you need. He will tell you whether he is the right fit and what working together looks like.
4030 Wake Forest Rd, Ste 300, Raleigh, NC 27609Monday to Wednesday 9 am to 5 pm, Thursday 9 am to 1 pm. Closed Friday to Sunday.
James is an amazing person and accountant. He is very patient and kind. He has done our taxes for 10 years and we've had all the changes and extras.