Post job

How to hire a tax preparer

Tax preparer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring tax preparers in the United States:

  • There are a total of 70,355 tax preparers in the US, and there are currently 41,736 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a tax preparer is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per tax preparer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for tax preparers, with 11 job openings.

How to hire a tax preparer, step by step

To hire a tax preparer, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a tax preparer:

Here's a step-by-step tax preparer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a tax preparer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tax preparer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a tax preparer do?

A tax preparer is responsible for preparing and processing the tax obligations of an organization. Tax preparers' duties include calculating tax returns, reviewing financial statements and make adjustments as needed, analyzing deductible expenses and credits, and adhering to the tax regulations and legislation procedures at all times. A tax preparer must have excellent knowledge of the tax processes and timely updated with the recent changes and updates within the financial industry. Tax preparers should have impeccable analytical and critical thinking skills to manage account statements for business and individual clients.

Learn more about the specifics of what a tax preparer does
jobs
Post a tax preparer job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The tax preparer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a tax preparer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a tax preparer that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of tax preparer salaries for various roles:

    Type of Tax PreparerDescriptionHourly rate
    Tax PreparerA Tax Preparer is responsible for income tax preparation for individuals and companies. They review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine the forms needed to prepare tax returns.$14-40
    Certified Public AccountantA certified public accountant (CPA) acts as an advisor to small businesses and chief financial officers to Fortune 500 companies. They typically work for both small and large public accounting firms... Show more$23-57
    Tax ConsultantTax consultants are experts in providing commercially centered tax advice and tax services to wide-ranging clients who function in all sectors of the economy. The work they do involves devising tax-efficient strategies for international and domestic-based clients in various business situations, including takeovers, company merges, and corporate reconstructions... Show more$22-44
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Good Communication
    • Exceptional Client
    • Math
    • Excellent Interpersonal
    • Taxable Income
    • Strong Customer Service
    • Income Tax Returns
    • Tax Services
    • Individual Tax Returns
    • State Income Taxes
    • Tax Returns
    • Tax Season
    • IRS
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Verify data input and totals on forms prepare by others to detect errors in math, data entry, or procedures.
    • Follow IRS's guidelines in accurately preparing taxes and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
    • Prepare a wide range of tax returns, help prepare subscription agreements, and help small start-up companies comply with GAAP.
    • Perform monthly bank statement reconciliations and create monthly financial statements.
    • Assist outside real property tax appeal providers by providing information necessary for filing appeals.
    • Create engaging Microsoft PowerPoint sides about associate trading arrangements with transfer pricing policy for upcoming speeches for the group director.
    More tax preparer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your tax preparer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A tax preparer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a tax preparer in Kansas may be lower than in Rhode Island, and an entry-level tax preparer usually earns less than a senior-level tax preparer. Additionally, a tax preparer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average tax preparer salary

    $51,020yearly

    $24.53 hourly rate

    Entry-level tax preparer salary
    $30,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 3, 2026

    Average tax preparer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$77,904$37
    2Nevada$70,924$34
    3New York$68,932$33
    4Utah$67,669$33
    5Oregon$65,746$32
    6Washington$62,994$30
    7Texas$62,037$30
    8Colorado$58,071$28
    9Pennsylvania$53,364$26
    10Maryland$53,043$26
    11Minnesota$50,280$24
    12Wisconsin$49,595$24
    13Georgia$47,985$23
    14Nebraska$47,604$23
    15Arizona$46,967$23
    16Michigan$46,741$22
    17Florida$46,197$22
    18Illinois$44,517$21
    19Oklahoma$44,354$21
    20Iowa$43,132$21

    Average tax preparer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Goldman Sachs$88,754$42.67
    2Ernst & Young$83,294$40.052,144
    3Intuit$73,613$35.3913
    4Financial Planning Association$67,203$32.312
    5Wessel & Company$66,698$32.07
    6Crowe$66,596$32.0247
    7Capincrouse Llp$65,323$31.41
    8CyberCoders$61,538$29.59
    9Community Tax$57,338$27.575
    10Miller Kaplan$54,901$26.395
    11Southwest Business Corporation$54,260$26.09
    12Sebastian$52,666$25.32
    13JWC Inc$52,312$25.15
    14Paro$52,307$25.15
    15Liberty Tax$51,734$24.8789
    16Jackson Hewitt$51,728$24.872,069
    17SCMR$51,150$24.595
    18Anderson Business Advisors$50,705$24.38
    19FIDUCIAL $49,951$24.011
    20International Rescue Committee$49,544$23.82
  4. Writing a tax preparer job description

    A good tax preparer job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a tax preparer job description:

    Tax preparer job description example

    Prepare Form 990 Series and other tax returns

    Prepare complementary state forms

    Identify and complete other tax consulting projects as assigned, including identifying, researching, and assessing various tax issues

    Build and maintain proactive, professional relationships with clients for assigned engagements

    Act respectfully and consistent with client values

    Qualifications

    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

    Education and/or Experience:

    Bachelor's degree in accounting or a related finance degree preferred

    Zero to five years of related tax or applicable business experience (Experience in public accounting is preferred.)

    Language Skills:

    The individual must have the ability to read and interpret documents industry-specific documents, write routine reports and speak effectively to clients and employees of the firm.

    Other Skills and Abilities:

    Reputation of integrity, even in conflictive situations

    Above average ability to learn and use computer software (e.g., Microsoft Excel). Proficiency in Microsoft Office (required); ProSystem (desired).

    Ability to recognize, anticipate, and resolve tax issues and make recommendations

    Ability to develop open and trusting relationships

    Ability to work in a team, whether as a member or leader

    Ability to motivate him/herself to grow professionally and serve with excellence

    Ability to assume responsibility for and complete agreed upon assignments

    Effective communication as it relates to relationships with in-charges regarding workflow, client needs, and timelines

    Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communications skills

    Exceptional organizational and time management skills; exhibiting the ability to manage a heavy workload without sacrificing quality of work or relationships

    Passion to serve others, especially nonprofit organizations

    Desire to work as a professional in a CPA firm with CapinCrouse's core values, vision, and mission

    Work Environment:

    The employee in this position typically works in an office environment but may occasionally be required to perform job duties outside of the standard office setting.

    The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee would typically encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    Other Skills and Abilities:

    Walking (low)

    Climbing (low)

    Bending (low)

    Twisting (low)

    Typing/using hands (moderate/high)

    Sitting (moderate/high)

    We Offer

    An extremely competitive compensation package with all the benefits you would expect from a national leader

    A strong on-boarding experience working directly with an in-charge to be adequately prepared to thrive in a new working environment; including but not limited to, training on tax preparation and audit software platforms, firm best practices and quality control procedures.

    The ability to work with very knowledgeable professionals and the opportunity to work with clients who are making a real difference in our community, our country, and our world

    State-of-the-art technology to give you the professional tools necessary to be your best

  5. Post your job

    To find the right tax preparer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with tax preparers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit tax preparers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your tax preparer job on Zippia to find and recruit tax preparer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit tax preparers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new tax preparer

    Once you've decided on a perfect tax preparer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new tax preparer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a tax preparer?

Before you start to hire tax preparers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire tax preparers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $51,020 per year for a tax preparer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for tax preparers in the US typically range between $14 and $40 an hour.

Find better tax preparers in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring tax preparers FAQs

Search for tax preparer jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse business and financial jobs