Tax Preparers

Overview

Tax Preparers has a national median salary of $54,920 per year, with +4.7% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Independence
• Support

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Getting Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Processing Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Analyzing Data or Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others

Detailed Work Activities

• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Tax Preparers:

Video Resources