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Tax preparation can be intimidating, but courses at companies like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt can teach the necessary skills. Tax preparers must be meticulous, good with numbers, and have people skills. No license is required, and seasonal jobs are available.
Despite the variety of tax preparation software and how-to books that saturate the market, most people are intimidated by the thought of preparing their own taxes and prefer to hire someone else to do it for them. If a person wants to become a tax preparer, there are ways to do it.
If a person wants to get into the field of tax preparation, he doesn’t need to go to college to get a degree. Obviously, people who enjoy learning about tax law may decide to pursue a career as a CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, but such a long-term commitment is not necessary. Another alternative is to enroll in a course at a tax preparation company such as H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt. Courses are usually free and only take a few months to complete. If someone wants to become a tax preparer, a great company like this would be a good way to receive instruction on how to prepare tax returns.
H&R Block offers both English and Spanish classes, and 90% of its employees complete the in-house tax preparation course. Classes generally last around 11 weeks. Jackson Hewitt classes meet twice a week for six weeks in instructor-led or self-paced classes. Instructor-led courses are conducted online. These are just two examples of large tax companies offering classes to prospective employees; however, completion of such courses does not guarantee employment.
Seasonal tax preparation jobs are often filled by students, stay-at-home parents, and retired people. Some tax preparers work other jobs during the rest of the year. Often, tax preparation jobs are a means of earning extra money. Each fall, tax preparers need to take a refresher course to stay current on tax changes, as tax laws change regularly.
Tax preparers are paid to fill out tax return forms for clients. The goal is to include all possible deductions to reduce the customer’s tax debt. When someone is a tax preparer, they must conduct a comprehensive interview with a client to obtain important financial and personal information.
Someone who wants to become a tax preparer must be meticulous and have the ability to understand detailed rules. She must be good with numbers and able to use software programs. As tax preparers work with the public, they must also have good people skills. While they don’t need to be knowledgeable about accounting, they should be adept at basic math.
In most states, to become a tax preparer, a person does not need to be licensed. Those interested in preparing taxes for others need only learn how to do it. Someone with an entrepreneurial spirit might even decide to start their own tax preparation business either online or in a store front office.
There is a continuing need for educated people to prepare tax returns as tax laws continue to become more complex. Someone who would like to become a tax preparer must complete a tax course to take advantage of the opportunities that abound for people who are good with numbers, can process complicated information, and have excellent customer service skills.
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