Tax Preparers

What the job really is

Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.

At a glance

• Sector: Business & Financial
• O*NET-SOC code: 13-2082
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

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

Tools and technology

Intuit QuickBooks, Intuit TurboTax, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Tax compliance property tax management software, Tax software, 10-key calculators, ACI TaskTracker, ATX Total Accounting Office

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
• Accountants and Auditors
• Personal Financial Advisors
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
• Credit Counselors
• Budget Analysts
• Credit Analysts
• Financial Examiners

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Tax Preparers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.