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What is a tax preparation assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScoreTax Preparation AssistantUS Average
Salary
4.3

Avg. Salary $55,417

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
6.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 9.70%

Black or African American 9.69%

Hispanic or Latino 19.24%

Unknown 3.99%

White 56.83%

Gender

female 66.82%

male 33.18%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.0

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Tax preparation assistant career paths

Key steps to become a tax preparation assistant

  1. Explore tax preparation assistant education requirements

    Most common tax preparation assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    50.1 %

    Associate

    21.2 %

    High School Diploma

    11.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific tax preparation assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Individual Tax Returns26.10%
    Income Statement10.20%
    W-210.12%
    Trial Preparation5.57%
    Scheduling Appointments5.16%
  3. Complete relevant tax preparation assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tax preparation assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tax preparation assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tax preparation assistant resumes.
  4. Research tax preparation assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Complete advanced level IRS certification for income tax preparation.
    • Serve as both a tax-preparer and personal assistant to a CPA.
    • Update records in QuickBooks system every time the client report a change.
    • Communicate with IRS concerning updates and regulation clarification.
  5. Prepare your tax preparation assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tax preparation assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tax preparation assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable tax preparation assistant resume templates

    Build a professional tax preparation assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tax preparation assistant resume.
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
    Tax Preparation Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for tax preparation assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a tax preparation assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first tax preparation assistant job

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Average tax preparation assistant salary

The average tax preparation assistant salary in the United States is $55,417 per year or $27 per hour. Tax preparation assistant salaries range between $27,000 and $110,000 per year.

Average tax preparation assistant salary
$55,417 Yearly
$26.64 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do tax preparation assistants rate their job?

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Tax preparation assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Seasonal work and flexible schedule

Cons

Low pay, considering the knowledge required to do the work and the volume of work that has to be done in a limited amount of time.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

Being able to assist people financially. Tell them how to keep must of their money and pay as little in taxes legally.

Cons

People get very upset because they have to pay more then they expected to pay IRS and their state taxes.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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