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Tax Professional skills for your resume and career

Updated June 25, 2024

6 min read

Quoted Experts

Kathi Mettler,

Kenton Klaus

Tax professionals need a range of hard skills to excel in their roles. These include strong customer service skills, knowledge of individual tax returns, and experience with tax software. They must also be familiar with the IRS and state tax returns, as well as taxable income and audit support. As Kenton Klaus, Director, Master of Science in Taxation, says, "Taxation is a very broad discipline, so it's important for a new tax professional to understand all the opportunities available for them to use their graduate degree."

Soft skills are equally important for tax professionals. They must have excellent communication skills, as they work closely with clients to gather required information for accurate tax returns. As Kathi Mettler, Director, Graduate Accounting Programs, Instructor of the Practice, Accounting, states, "In this day and age, accountants no longer hide in the office and crunch numbers; they are at the clients' site and must possess strong people and interpersonal skills."

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical tax professional skills. We ranked the top skills for tax professionals based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 24.5% of tax professional resumes contained strong customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a tax professional needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 tax professional skills for your resume and career

1. Strong Customer Service

Strong customer service is about providing a positive and helpful experience for clients. Tax professionals use strong customer service by developing skills that help them interact effectively with customers. They do this by preparing tax returns while also building relationships and managing their time well.

Here's how tax professionals use strong customer service:

Developed strong customer service and time-management skills.
Franchise Owner: Tim & Marina DuganPrepared tax returns for customers while developing strong customer service and organizational skills.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the act of helping and supporting customers. Tax professionals use customer service by attending to customer complaints, offering tax orientations, and providing personalized support in professional tax preparation and reception. They also use customer service to answer tax questions, establish relationships with customers, and ensure complete client satisfaction.

Here's how tax professionals use customer service:

Delivered exceptional customer service by anticipating customer needs as well as the presentation of various company products and services.
Modeled /coached required skills needed to deliver exceptional customer service consistently and how to effectively handle client issues.

3. Individual Tax Returns

Individual tax returns are documents filed with the government that report a person's income, expenses, and other relevant information. Tax professionals use these returns to prepare and file taxes on behalf of their clients. They conduct client interviews, prepare the relevant schedules, and review the returns for accuracy and completeness. They also provide additional services and products suited to their clients' tax and financial situations.

Here's how tax professionals use individual tax returns:

Prepared individual tax returns and provided additional or alternative products/services suited toward clients' tax and financial situations.
Tax Professional* Professionally prepared individual tax returns with a very high level of detail and accuracy

4. IRS

The IRS, or Internal Revenue Service, is a government agency responsible for tax collection and law enforcement. Tax professionals use the IRS in various ways, such as corresponding with the agency on notifications, filing confidential information, and preparing amended returns. They also educate taxpayers about IRS audit and examination processes, monitor accuracy of documentation according to IRS regulations, and assist clients with IRS-related issues like tax return amendments and installment payment plans.

Here's how tax professionals use irs:

Corresponded with Internal Revenue Service on IRS notifications and prepared amended returns.
Filed confidential information after retrieving assigned IRS control numbers for each return.

5. Taxable Income

Taxable income is the amount of money a person or business earns that is subject to taxation. Tax professionals use taxable income to determine the amount of taxes owed by their clients. They conduct interviews with their clients to gather information about their taxable income and deductible expenses. This information is then used to prepare electronic tax returns and calculate the amount of deductibles, expenses, and taxable income.

Here's how tax professionals use taxable income:

Interviewed clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances Proctored exams for Applied Measurement Professionals.
Interviewed clients and reviewed current and historical financial records to determine taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.

6. State Tax Returns

State tax returns are documents that citizens submit to their state government to report their income and pay taxes. Tax professionals use state tax returns to report their clients' income and pay taxes to the state government. They prepare and file these returns, often in conjunction with federal tax returns, to ensure their clients are in compliance with state tax laws.

Here's how tax professionals use state tax returns:

Prepared Federal and State tax returns following a detailed consultative conversation.
Worked with individual walk-in clients to analyze tax documents, determine deductions, and prepare both Federal and State tax returns.

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7. Income Tax Returns

Income tax returns are documents that report an individual's income and taxes owed to the government. Tax professionals use income tax returns to gather necessary information and documentation for filing. They prepare these returns for individuals by reviewing financial documents and interviewing clients. This includes preparing federal and state income tax returns, quarterly estimates, and processing electronic and manual returns.

Here's how tax professionals use income tax returns:

IRS-certified volunteer that provides free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities.
Practiced and adhered to federal confidentiality standards during the accurate preparation of federal and state income tax returns.

8. Audit Support

Audit support involves assisting with issues related to audits, such as resolving tax issues with the IRS and State DOR. Tax professionals use audit support by providing this assistance to their clients, often as part of a broader package of services. They may also offer additional products related to audit support.

Here's how tax professionals use audit support:

Provided IRS audit support as well as supported office priorities through teamwork and collaboration.
Provide audit support to clients attempting to resolve IRS and State DOR tax issues.

9. Business Growth

Business growth is the process of increasing a company's size, revenue, or profitability. Tax professionals use business growth by participating in local marketing, communicating the value of their products and services, and offering additional solutions to clients. They also generate growth by understanding client needs and providing free services to specific groups, such as educators and firefighters.

Here's how tax professionals use business growth:

Increased retention of all clients and generated business growth by actively participating in local marketing.
Assisted with generating business growth through active participation in local marketing and community events.

10. Tax Advice

Tax advice is guidance on how to manage one's tax obligations. Tax professionals use tax advice to help clients with their tax returns. They also use it to build long-term relationships with their clients. They may offer advice on how to fill out W4 forms, provide tax advice to individuals and small businesses, and offer expertise on current tax laws.

Here's how tax professionals use tax advice:

Provided personal and small business tax advice; maintained long-term customer relationship.
Provided tax advice and effectively demonstrated expertise to clients.

11. Client Retention

Client retention is the act of keeping existing clients. Tax professionals use client retention by managing relationships, selling services, and offering products that help with tax resolution and identity theft. They also use company guided client relations techniques, manage office staff, and build year-round relationships to achieve client retention. This helps them increase client retention rates and sell more services.

Here's how tax professionals use client retention:

Achieved customer satisfaction and client retention utilizing company guided client relations techniques.
Managed and trained 15 office staff on client retention, tax and banking laws

12. Tax Planning

Tax planning involves managing tax policies and positions to maximize tax savings. Tax professionals use tax planning to guide clients on how to achieve their tax goals. They assess tax situations and recommend strategies to reduce future tax obligations. They also provide advice on tax efficient business structures and saving tools.

Here's how tax professionals use tax planning:

Performed strategic tax planning by managing tax policies and positions, interacted closely with clients to provide innovative tax planning.
Directed tax work for corporations and performed all accounting, financial, and tax planning for several clients.

13. Tax Season

Tax season is a period of the year when tax professionals are in high demand due to the deadlines for filing tax returns. During this time, tax professionals prepare and process tax returns for individuals and businesses, provide assistance and guidance to taxpayers, and often receive additional training to stay updated on tax code and law changes. They may also take on additional responsibilities such as managing cash registers and opening and closing offices.

Here's how tax professionals use tax season:

Monitor performance to achieve tax season requirements.
Employed with HR Block as a Licensed Tax Professional for the 2013/2014 tax season and Marketing Assistant in the off season.

14. Tax Software

Tax software is a type of computer program used to prepare and file taxes. Tax professionals use this software to manage client communications, prepare personal income taxes, and compute taxes owed or overpaid. They also use it to conduct quality assurance reviews, train new employees, and process tax returns.

Here's how tax professionals use tax software:

Managed quality communication, customer support and assisted other tax professionals with questions and concerns regarding our tax software.
Prepare personal income taxes for individual clients in a face-to-face environment using tax preparation software.

15. Payroll

Payroll is the process of paying an organization's employees. Tax professionals use payroll to analyze and report on related data, prepare financial and statistical reports, and maintain comprehensive databases. They also assist with tasks like bookkeeping, financial advisory services, and business accounting functions. For example, they might complete corporate income taxes, payroll tax returns, and sales & use tax forms.

Here's how tax professionals use payroll:

Work encompassed several specialized tasks including: bookkeeping, payroll and financial advisory services.
Performed various business accounting functions including payroll analysis and reporting.

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What skills help Tax Professionals find jobs?

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What skills stand out on Tax Professional resumes?

Kathi Mettler

Director, Graduate Accounting Programs, Instructor of the Practice, Accounting, Fairfield University

Completion of the CPA Exam (passing all four parts before starting to work) is a significant competitive advantage. Analytics is really important now, which is why our Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) Program allows students to tailor their experience by choosing a specialization in either assurance, business analytics, or taxation. Additionally, a student may pursue a Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) with an accounting or taxation specialization. An accounting or taxation specialization is offered in our MBA and MSF programs as well. Another skill important for success is being an effective communicator. In this day and age, accountants no longer hide in the office and crunch numbers; they are at the clients' site and must possess strong people and interpersonal skills. The importance of effective communication (written and verbal) and soft skills is why we have created a new graduate course, "Effective Communication for Accounting Professionals".

What Tax Professional skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kenton Klaus

Director, Master of Science in Taxation, Website

Taxation is a very broad discipline, so it's important for a new tax professional to understand all the opportunities available for them to use their graduate degree. In some cases, graduate students have already been in the workforce, and have specific plans to return to a certain area of practice. However, many students have not explored the available opportunities to see which line up best with their interests and skills. I encourage graduate students to explore the market before they graduate, reach out to alumni who work in different areas of the tax profession, and speak with the professors for the courses that most interested them.

What type of skills will young Tax Professionals need?

Andrew Hartzler

Professor of Accounting, Goshen College

The most critical skill for graduates is the ability and willingness to communicate effectively. All accounting programs teach essentially the same materials. While there is certainly some variability in the quality of teaching across accounting programs, students with the drive and ability to learn and excel at accounting will learn the fundamental accounting concepts over the course of their degree.

What has a much higher degree of variability among students is their ability and willingness to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Technology, especially smartphones and social media, have dramatically impacted the degree to which students have been exposed to situations where they are required to communicate effectively and respectfully. The impact this has had is a widespread hesitancy by students to communicate with others in both verbal and written form. In all organizational settings, effective communication is critical to organizational functions and efficiency in shared processes and projects. Recent graduates must quickly overcome their apprehension to reach out and communicate, via both email and in verbal forms (in person and over the phone), which are mediums they are not widely accustomed to.

Do you want to know more?

List of tax professional skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a tax professional resume and required skills for a tax professional to have include:

Strong Customer Service
Customer Service
Individual Tax Returns
IRS
Taxable Income
State Tax Returns
Income Tax Returns
Audit Support
Business Growth
Tax Advice
Client Retention
Tax Planning
Tax Season
Tax Software
Payroll
Tax Services
Schedule Appointments

Tax Returns
State Income Taxes
Income Tax Preparation
Tax Knowledge
Tax Issues
Financial Statements
Taxation
Business Tax Returns
QuickBooks
Detect Errors
Tax Tables
Local Codes
Partnership Tax
Tax Laws
Customer Complaints
Tax Expertise
Deductible Expenses

Credit Card Payments
Tax Regulations
Optimal Tax
Bank Deposits
Vita
Revenue Service
R Block
Federal Tax Returns
Clients Taxes
Client Confidentiality
Tax Law Handbooks
Tax Return Forms
Tax Interviews
Tax Liabilities
Tax Code

Updated June 25, 2024

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.

Updated June 25, 2024

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