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The differences between tax preparers and tax consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tax consultant has an average salary of $66,737, which is higher than the $51,020 average annual salary of a tax preparer.
The top three skills for a tax preparer include customer service, good communication and exceptional client. The most important skills for a tax consultant are CPA, tax planning, and tax issues.
| Tax Preparer | Tax Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $51,020 | $66,737 |
| Hourly rate | $24.53 | $32.09 |
| Growth rate | - | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 41,736 | 39,379 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Tax 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. They work continually to help clients ensure that the best business decisions are met. They also monitor and get ahead of possible changes concerning tax legislation and responding fast with guidance specific to their clients' tax requirements.
Tax preparers and tax consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tax Preparer | Tax Consultant | |
| Average salary | $51,020 | $66,737 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $85,000 | Between $47,000 And $93,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Goldman Sachs | Cargill |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a tax preparer and a tax consultant in terms of educational background:
| Tax Preparer | Tax Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between tax preparers' and tax consultants' demographics:
| Tax Preparer | Tax Consultant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 10.3% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 10.4% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |