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Tax processor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a tax processor. Tax processors usually study business, accounting, or finance. 45% of tax processors hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,127 real tax processor resumes to see exactly what tax processor education sections show.

The most common colleges for tax processors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online tax processor courses to help get the education required to be a tax processor.

What education do you need to become a tax processor?

What degree do you need to be a tax processor?

The most common degree for tax processors is bachelor's degree, with 45% of tax processors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 17%.
  • Bachelor's, 45%
  • Associate, 24%
  • High School Diploma, 17%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a tax processor?

You should major in business to become a tax processor. 30% of tax processors major in business. Other common majors for a tax processor include accounting and finance.

Most common colleges for tax processors

Tax processors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Jackson State University, and Ashford University. Here are the most common colleges for tax processors in the US based on their resumes.
Tax processor common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix14.29%
Jackson State University7.79%
Ashford University6.49%
Monroe College6.49%
San Jose State University5.19%

Best majors for tax processors

RankMajorPercentages
1Business29.7%
2Accounting22.8%
3Finance3.9%
4General Studies3.7%
5Health Care Administration3.7%

Best colleges for tax processors

The best colleges for tax processors are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Villanova University.

A tax processor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for tax processors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become tax processors.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

2. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

3. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

4. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

6. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. Baylor University

Waco, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$45,542

Enrollment

14,159

10. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

20 best online courses for tax processors

Advertising disclosure

1. GST - Using input tax credit

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GST, if applicable, can be paid in cash or through the utilization of input tax credit, also commonly known as ITC. In this course, you will learn about the concept of the input tax credit, conditions , and restrictions on availing and utilizing ITC, legal requirements and procedures for reconciliation of ITC , and the concept of distribution of ITC. Input tax credits, along with valuations, play an important role in the pricing of goods and services. This course provides a platform for...

2. Using Efficient Sorting Algorithms in Java to Arrange Tax Data

coursera

By the end of this project, you will learn how to create an application that sorts Missouri Tax Data into ascending order using a variety of critical sorting algorithms. We will learn how to process a real life data set, and see the difference between various sorting algorithms in memory and time usage. In addition, we will learn how to analyze a sorting algorithm and how to design a readable implementation. Finally, we will cover what circumstance are ideal for each type of sorting algorithm...

3. Tax Preparation: Learn Fast! Prepare Taxes with Confidence!

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4.1
(616)

Become a confident tax preparer by learning about taxes and applications over practical examples and scenarios...

4. How to Prepare Your U.S. Federal Tax Returns Online

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4.5
(268)

Master Income Tax Preparation Using Turbo Tax...

5. Partnership Income Tax (Form 1065)

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4.6
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Learn to enter tax data for a Partnership into tax Form 1065 from a CPA...

6. C Corporation Income Tax (Form 1120)

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4.3
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Learn to enter tax data for a C Corporation into tax Form 1020 from a CPA...

7. US Income Taxes - Income Tax Preparation Simplified for You

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4.5
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The A – Z of self-preparing and e-filing your basic income taxes by 04/15. Income tax preparation made easy for you...

8. Tax Strategies of the Wealthy

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4.2
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How the Rich Get Richer Through Taxes...

9. Fundamentals of Business Taxes

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Learn the fundamentals of business taxes and understand the basics of doing taxes for your business...

10. Practical Course in Goods and Services Tax

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Learn GSTR1 and GSTR2 Returns,GSTR3B Monthly return & GSTR9 Annual return...

11. Tax Accounting Made Easy to Understand

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Finally, an easy to understand tax accounting course. Taxes explained step by step...

12. Income Tax - Schedule C Small Business Sole Proprietor

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Small business, schedule C income tax preparation using actual tax forms for examples including form 1040, Schedule SE...

13. Tax Preparation and Law 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, & 2019

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Unlock Tax Filing Confidence with Practical Examples & Step-by-Step Instructions in this Comprehensive Income Tax Course...

14. Ultimate Payroll Management with Income Tax & Year-End 23-24

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4.2
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Basic to Advanced: Certification in Payroll, Compensation Benefits, Income Tax,Year Ending for Payroll & Human Resources...

15. GST: The Goods and Services Tax Certificate Course

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4.5
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A GST Course for Beginners to learn the basics of GST, GST filing, Registration, ITC Returns and Taxation...

16. Tax & Adjusting Entry Year-End Accounting Excel Worksheet

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4.6
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Build Excel worksheet for adjusting adjusting & tax entries, reconciling net income calculated on a book and tax basis...

17. QuickBooks Payroll - QuickBooks Online

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4.5
(319)

Processing Quick Books Online payroll for a small business, generating paychecks, processing payroll tax forms...

18. S Corporation Income Tax - Form 1120S

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4.5
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Learn to enter tax data for an S Corporation into Form 1120S from a CPA...

19. Tally.ERP9+TallyPrime+GST+IncomeTax+TDS+MS Excel (ComboPack)

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4.2
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A Compulsion Course for Accounting, Financial, MIS, Data Analysis, Tax Professional, Auditors & Bsns Management Sectors...

20. Become a Mortgage Loan Processor

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Finibi Mortgage CEO, Joe Correa, teaches you how to become a mortgage loan processor...

Top 10 most affordable universities for tax processors

The most affordable schools for tax processors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - fullerton.

If the best universities for tax processors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for tax processors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

4. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

9. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

10. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for tax processors

The hardest universities for tax processors to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Villanova University.

Some great schools for tax processors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for tax processors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

3. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

10. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for tax processors

The easiest schools for tax processors to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a tax processor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for tax processors.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

5. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

8. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

9. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average tax processor salary by education level

According to our data, tax processors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $43,480 annually. Tax processors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $40,185.
Tax processor education levelTax processor salary
Master's Degree$43,480
High School Diploma or Less$32,704
Bachelor's Degree$40,185
Some College/ Associate Degree$35,418

Tax processor education FAQs

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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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