In the inaugural episode of The Enrolled Agent Advocate, host Brandy Spears (NAEA) welcomes tax attorney and Forbes contributor Kelly Phillips Erb, known widely as Tax Girl. They explore Kelly’s journey from tax blogger to national voice for taxpayer rights—and dive into her recent experience in remote Alaskan villages, where she joined a team providing free tax services to communities with no internet, no mail, and no real IRS access.
Together, they discuss the importance of programs like VITA and LITC, the struggles of taxpayers who want to comply but are cut off from the system, and how tax professionals can be part of the solution.
Why Listen
Hear firsthand what tax outreach looks like in the most underserved areas of the U.S.
Learn how voluntary compliance depends on access and trust
Understand the impact of IRS mail backlogs and broken systems
Get inspired to support or volunteer for tax assistance programs
In This Episode:
[00:00:00] Welcome to The Enrolled Agent Advocate
[00:00:30] Meet Kelly Phillips Erb: Tax Girl origin story
[00:02:00] From tax blogging to Forbes contributor
[00:03:40] Making tax law accessible to everyday readers
[00:06:17] Flying into the Alaskan wilderness to help taxpayers
[00:09:45] What it’s like serving clients off the grid
[00:14:50] Explaining taxes to people with no internet or roads
[00:19:53] “They want to comply”: The determination of taxpayers
[00:20:44] When filing is nearly impossible
[00:22:43] Why VITA and LITC matter more than ever
[00:24:52] Volunteering for free tax assistance
[00:27:21] Tax changes ahead: What pros should watch
[00:30:51] The IRS mail backlog and its real-life fallout
[00:34:09] Final thoughts, fun facts, and closing
Notable Quotes
Scared taxpayers are immobile taxpayers. They don’t do what they need to get help." — Kelly
"If we want people to comply, we need to make it easy for people to comply." — Kelly
"We explained how they could file, qualify for refunds, and meet their obligations." — Kelly
"Blame Congress. It drives me crazy how many taxpayers blame IRS or tax pros." — Kelly
Our Guest
Kelly Phillips Erb is a tax attorney and educator who makes complex tax issues understandable. With a JD and LLM in Tax from Temple University, she writes for Forbes, appears on CNN and NPR, and advocates for taxpayer rights. Known online as Tax Girl, she specializes in tax controversy, international tax, estate planning, and compliance.
Resources and Links
The Enrolled Agent Advocate
Brandy Spears
Kelly Phillips Erb