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Tax Preparer
Business & FinanceYou spend January through April in a fluorescent-lit office helping people figure out how much they owe the government, then spend the rest of the year being forgotten. Clients bring you shoeboxes of receipts, ask if their cat is a dependent, and expect a refund no matter what. Every year the tax code changes just enough to keep you studying.
Salary Range
Low
$28k
Median
$45k
High
$75k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
93K
Education
PTIN registration + state requirements (EA or CPA for advanced work)
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Tax preparation software (TurboTax Pro, Drake, Lacerte)
- ▸IRS tax code (1040, 1120, 1065, Schedules A-E)
- ▸State and local tax regulations
- ▸Depreciation and amortization calculations
- ▸E-filing systems and IRS e-Services
- ▸QuickBooks and bookkeeping fundamentals
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Attention to detail
- ▸Client communication
- ▸Ethical conduct
- ▸Patience
- ▸Organizational skills
What you'll actually do
- 01Sort through shoeboxes of receipts from clients who think organization is optional
- 02Prepare federal and state tax returns for individuals who can't explain their own W-2
- 03Explain to clients why they owe taxes this year when they got a refund last year
- 04Navigate tax software updates that arrive mid-season and break everything
- 05Stay current on tax code changes that Congress passes at the last possible moment
- 06Talk clients out of deductions that would trigger an audit faster than you can say 'red flag'
Related Shifts
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