Earning Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT) credentials enhances your reputation as a trusted accounting or tax professional.

ACAT confers four credentials:

ABA Accredited Business Accountant® For practitioners who specialize in the financial accounting, financial reporting, financial statement preparation, taxation, business consulting services, business law, and ethics for small to medium sized businesses and in financial services to individuals and family.

Accredited Tax Advisor® (ATA). The ATA credential is for practitioners who can handle sophisticated tax planning issues, including planning for owners of closely held businesses, planning for the highly compensated, choosing qualified retirement plans and performing estate tax planning. Their expertise covers tax returns for individuals, business entities, fiduciaries, trusts and estates, as well as tax planning, tax consulting and ethics.

Accredited Tax Preparer® (ATP). The ATP credential is for practitioners who have a thorough knowledge of the existing tax code and the preparation of individual tax returns. Their expertise covers comprehensive 1040 issues (including supporting schedules, self-employed returns, etc.) and ethics.

Accredited Retirement Advisor® (ARA). For practitioners who have expertise in preparing their clients for retirement; the essentials of estate and trust planning and choosing appropriate retirement plans.