Get Free Tax Preparer Training and Experience
March 6th, 2010 | 
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The least expensive way to become a tax preparer is to take an introductory course with established tax return preparation companies like Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block. These firms have an established course that can be completed in a few months. At the end of your training, you can work for them and gain valuable experience. The advantage to these courses is they are inexpensive and you will learn how to prepare tax returns by hand. That means you use paper, pencil, and a calculator.
The disadvantage to them is that you will not learn how to use any professional tax preparation software. If you choose to work for the company that administers the class, you will only be introduced to their “interview” software that each company uses for its own tax preparation services.
If you are interested in taking these classes, they usually begin in the fall and run through the end of November in preparation for the upcoming tax season. Another training option is to take a correspondence or online course. There are several independent companies that offer distance courses for individuals that wish to become tax preparers. It’s a good idea to have some real experience before you start offering tax preparation. A good marker is a minimum of two seasons (“tax season” runs from January to April 15) of tax experience and general knowledge of tax preparation.
A great way to get this experience is working for an independent tax professional during tax season. Just a few weeks of experience can go a long way toward knowing what’s really involved in offering this type of service to your clients. A small CPA firm or independent Enrolled Agent office can help you get the hands-on experience you need with a safety net to have someone else checking your work before you venture out on your own as a tax professional.
Once you’ve finished your training and gained some experience, you’ll be ready to start offering tax preparation services as an additional profit center to your business. Tax preparation is generally seasonal, but is a nice boost to your bottom line because it is billed at a much higher rate.
Once you get some much needed experience, consider becoming an enrolled agent by taking the IRS enrolled agent exam. When you pass, you automatically become enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service.
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Tags: Introductory Course, Jackson Hewitt, Tax Preparation, Tax Preparer, Tax Return Preparation