Marilyn K. Ratliff, EA

Business Profile: BTI Professional Services, Inc. was established in 1981 by Marilyn Ratliff as a home business and has grown into a successful corporation. BTI provides income tax preparation services, client representation when interfacing with the IRS, and tax problem resolution as well as providing full-service bookkeeping and payroll services.

Educational Profile: Marilyn became an Enrolled Agent (a federally-authorized tax practitioner who is able to prepare income tax returns, represent taxpayers before the IRS, and practice administrative tax law in audits, collection issues, and appeals) in 1984 after passing a two day, four-part exam that has only a 28 percent passing rate. She is an inaugural graduate of the National Tax Practice Institute. Marilyn maintains over 100 hours of continuing education each year.

Association and Civic Profile: Marilyn was Chair for the National Association of Enrolled Agents Education Foundation and is twice a former Secretary. She has also been the First Vice President and Secretary and Public Information Director for the Orange County Chapter of Enrolled Agents. She is a fellow instructor, former President, and founder of the NTPI Alumni Fellows Association. She is a member of the TAL Committee that meets yearly with the local, state, and national taxing agencies to arrive at solutions to various tax problems. Marilyn has been a former Director for the California Society of Enrolled Agents.

She has been a speaker through the Enrolled Agents Speakers Bureau, speaking before the general public and giving local chapter updates for her peers. She has appeared in CSEA’s tax law videotapes and on local television and has moderated a tax season radio program. In 1990, she received the Tax Educator of the Year award from the National Association of Enrolled Agents Education Foundation. In 1992, she was chosen Enrolled Agent of the Year by the Orange County Chapter of Enrolled Agents.

Personal Profile: Marilyn is single and the mother of two sons. She enjoys traveling and meeting new friends. She feels the secret to her success is her honesty with clients, her personality, and her ability to work well with people.