2007-02-13 07:02:05 · 5 answers · asked by Jessica S 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ Other - Taxes
Hi, Jessica! Enrolling in classes with a tax preparation firm like H&R Block is a great way to get some practical hands-on experience. If you go that route, just do your homework and pass the tests in their Income Tax course and you will probably be offered a job right off the bat (I was offered a job when I took the 1040 course, but I was already employed at a financial office; for more info on their courses, check out the link under Sources). But if you're serious about making a career out of tax preparation, you'll definitely want to pursue further certifications.
CPA's (Certified Public Accountants) are able to prepare tax returns in addition to performing a wide variety of services (such as bookkeeping and payroll), but it also takes a lot more work to get the certification (which, by the way, is done state by state, so you have to get re-certified for each state in which you practice).
If you are purely interested in tax preparation, Enrolled Agents are specifically tax professionals and therefore have a faster track available for certification; all you have to do is pass a three part test (albeit a grueling one) administered by the IRS on the various areas of taxation (individuals, business entities, ethics, etc). Furthermore, the fact that it is an IRS certification means you can practice in any state in the US.
In summary: if you just want to prepare basic returns like 1040s, H&R Block is a great option to get both training and experience. But if you want to get serious about it, either go straight taxes as an EA or a broad accounting stroke as a CPA. Either of these should open up a lot of job opportunities for you; check out the links below for more details. Good luck!! :-)
2007-02-13 09:17:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can go to any major tax preparation chain and ask about tax training school. If you were to work for one they would want you to take their training school.
You can go to a CPA and work for them. They may train you or send you to one of these training schools as well (Seen it happen more than a few times).
2007-02-13 15:12:31 · answer #2 · answered by R Worth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to college and major in accounting. Or you can take the H&R Block tax course.
2007-02-13 15:09:39 · answer #3 · answered by jseah114 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
H&R Block gives classes but BEWARE!
There are many areas that are very important that are "beyond the scope of this course." The teachers may give you wrong info. We had to take their class be be in compliance for CA. We knew more than the teacher. They also hired prople that flunked the final.
2007-02-13 18:25:25 · answer #4 · answered by Dizney 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
H & R Block offers them in the fall. Go to: hrblock.com
2007-02-13 15:09:32 · answer #5 · answered by boredperv 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋