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Tax associate vs tax advisor

The differences between tax associates and tax advisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tax associate has an average salary of $62,466, which is higher than the $58,252 average annual salary of a tax advisor.

The top three skills for a tax associate include strong customer service, CPA and tax planning. The most important skills for a tax advisor are local tax returns, reconciliations, and customer service.

Tax associate vs tax advisor overview

Tax AssociateTax Advisor
Yearly salary$62,466$58,252
Hourly rate$30.03$28.01
Growth rate6%-
Number of jobs42,01976,710
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4747
Years of experience--

What does a tax associate do?

Tax associates are responsible for helping businesses and individuals with state and federal income tax preparation and compliance. These professionals often work for accounting firms and financial services companies. They perform varied tasks that include reviewing income statements, financial records, and expenditures, interviewing clients about income and expenses, and minimizing their clients' tax liability. Tax associates also conduct research on tax issues and assist with tax audits, advise clients on compensation and tax information, and maintain accurate and current client records.

What does a tax advisor do?

Tax Advisors are responsible for providing tax advice to clients in the area of tax legislation and tax obligations. Their duties include researching tax legislation, gathering client information, submitting tax returns, liaising with internal revenue service representing clients, and developing tax strategies. They are responsible for performing tax computations, forming family trusts, undertaking estate planning as well as consulting on matters regarding domicile and tax residence. Tax Advisors also give advice related to indirect taxation and prepare reports.

Tax associate vs tax advisor salary

Tax associates and tax advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Tax AssociateTax Advisor
Average salary$62,466$58,252
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $95,000Between $29,000 And $116,000
Highest paying CityLas Vegas, NVCumberland, RI
Highest paying stateNevadaNew Hampshire
Best paying companyRopes & GrayDLA Piper
Best paying industryFinanceEnergy

Differences between tax associate and tax advisor education

There are a few differences between a tax associate and a tax advisor in terms of educational background:

Tax AssociateTax Advisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Tax associate vs tax advisor demographics

Here are the differences between tax associates' and tax advisors' demographics:

Tax AssociateTax Advisor
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 36.4% Female, 63.6%Male, 36.6% Female, 63.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 10.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 10.1% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between tax associate and tax advisor duties and responsibilities

Tax associate example responsibilities.

  • Provide tax planning and preparation services for corporate, individual and high net-worth clients of this midsize CPA firm.
  • Implement process to identify and prepare the balances for W2 purposes at year end.
  • Prepare customer taxes from w-2's and other tax information, answer phones, print checks, filing
  • Resolve a major system problems with split process level errors so employee W2's and companies returns are correct.
  • Respond to inquiries from the IRS and other tax authorities regarding reconciliation of filings, liabilities, and other associate matters.
  • Advise clients on questions they have pertaining to their tax liabilities and ensure that they are compliant to the IRS regulations.
  • Show more

Tax advisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage a staff of six for all aspects of tax compliance, tax accounting, research, planning and IRS audits.
  • Provide payroll processing, invoicing and tax support services for small consulting business using QuickBooks software.
  • Assist customers with IRS correspondence/notices.
  • Advise companies on international taxation law and bilateral taxation recognition regimes to identify most cost effective strategies.
  • Review domestic payroll reporting metrics, ensure home/host payments are updated and reconcile for timely submission and payment.
  • Start job by assisting TurboTax user's on how to enter information into the TurboTax program.

Tax associate vs tax advisor skills

Common tax associate skills
  • Strong Customer Service, 26%
  • CPA, 13%
  • Tax Planning, 6%
  • Taxation, 5%
  • Tax Research, 4%
  • Local Tax Returns, 4%
Common tax advisor skills
  • Local Tax Returns, 8%
  • Reconciliations, 7%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • IRS, 7%
  • Income Statement, 6%
  • Individual Tax Returns, 6%

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