What You'll Do

  • Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
  • Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
  • Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
  • Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
  • Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
  • Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
  • Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns.
  • Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.
  • Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
  • Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Active Listening 3.88/5
Critical Thinking 3.5/5
Speaking 3.12/5
Active Learning 3.12/5
Time Management 3.12/5
Writing 3.0/5
Mathematics 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Service Orientation 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Integrity, Attention to Detail, Dependability, Stress Tolerance, Achievement/Effort

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 3.88/5
Oral Expression 3.88/5
Near Vision 3.88/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.75/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.25/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5
Number Facility 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

ACI TaskTracker ATX Total Accounting Office ATX Total Tax Office CCH ProSystem fx TAX Creative Solutions CPA Depreciation Creative Solutions UltraTax CS Datagroup ElectroFile 1040 Datagroup ElectroFile ELF Datagroup ElectroFile ST Datair Employee Benefits Systems Electronic ToolKit for Tax Preparers Email software ExacTax PackageEX Greatland Corporation Winfiler GreatTax Intellitax financial solutions software Intuit ProSeries Intuit QuickBooks Intuit TurboTax Kleinrock Publishing

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Integrity (High importance: 4.76/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.7/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.3/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.11/5)
  • Achievement/Effort (High importance: 3.95/5)

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How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Corporate Tax Preparer CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Credentialed Tax Expert Credentialed Tax Professional Enrolled Agent Income Tax Advisor Income Tax Consultant Income Tax Expert Income Tax Preparer Licensed Tax Consultant Preseason Tax Professional Tax Accountant Tax Advisor Tax Associate Tax Consultant Tax Evaluator Tax Preparer Tax Preparer Assistant Tax Professional Tax Specialist