Tax Careers

Sampling of Tax Careers
Tax preparers, or tax specialists, do the important work of preparing tax returns for individuals or small businesses. With tax preparer training, you'll learn the various tasks of tax careers -- how to compute taxes owed or overpaid, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables. You'll learn about using all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.

With tax preparer training, you'll be able to review financial records in order to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns. You'll consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns. Tax training will also help you calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required. Finally, you'll be responsible for checking data input or verifying totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in math, data entry, or procedures.

Tax careers aren't all facts and figures, though. Start polishing your communication skills, since tax careers may require you to interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances. Plus, you'll be responsible for providing taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.

Tax training can lead to other tax careers, too. Tax examiners review individual or small business tax returns for accuracy and determine whether tax credits and deductions are allowed by law. Tax collectors deal with delinquent accounts and work with taxpayers on settling debts.

Tax Training
An associate or bachelor's degree in accounting is becoming the standard source of training for those pursuing tax careers. In addition, the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation confers the Accredited Tax Preparer(r) designation for professionals who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the existing tax code and the preparation of individual, corporate, and partnership tax returns. The three-hour exam consists of 58 multiple-choice questions that test proficiency in ethics and taxation. If you can demonstrate successful completion of qualifying tax preparer training, however, you may be able to bypass the exam and fast-track your way into tax careers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, tax examiners and collectors held about 76,000 jobs in 2004. Median annual earnings were $43,490, with the top 10 percent earning more than $81,240.

Tax preparers held about 86,000 jobs in 2004, with median annual earnings of $26,120. In the federal government tax specialists earned an average of $54,364 in 2005.

It's a fact: Tax careers are here to stay. Why not let tax training secure your future?

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