Tax Preparers Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Tax Preparers

The main tasks and work activities of Tax Preparers are to calculate tax information, interview clients to gather financial information, examine financial records, advise others on financial matters. In general, for the Tax Preparers, reading Comprehension, active Listening, critical Thinking, speaking and other 9 skills are required.

Tax Preparers Job Description
Education	Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related Experience	Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Tax Preparers jobs. 31.82% of Tax Preparers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 13.64% of Tax Preparers have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

4.55%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

31.82%

Post-Secondary Certificate

13.64%

Some College Courses

18.18%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

0.00%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

31.81%

Tasks and Work Activities of Tax Preparers

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

Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Performing Administrative ActivitiesPerforming day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Calculate tax information.
Interview clients to gather financial information.
Examine financial records.
Advise others on financial matters.
Update professional knowledge.
Verify accuracy of records.
Correspond with customers to answer questions or resolve complaints.
Develop financial plans for clients.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Schedule appointments.

Skills and Abilities for Tax Preparers

Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Desktop calculatore.g. 10-key calculators
Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
Notebook computerse.g. Notebook computers

Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Economics and AccountingKnowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Tax Preparers Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Tax Preparers

Skills and Abilities for Tax Preparers