do i need a certificate to do others taxes for a small fee?

Answer 1

An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of practicing, that is, representing taxpayers, before the Internal Revenue Service. Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can practice before.

http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/agents/article/0,,id=100710,00.html
E File Provider
http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/providers/article/0,,id=97657,00.html

Answer 2

You do not need a certificate. However, you will probably want to ask the IRS for a Tax Preparer number, which they will send to you just for asking. Otherwise you will need to sign each return with your social security number as a paid preparer. And that is one thing you do NOT want to do!

I highly recommend the H&R Block introductory tax course, which is offered every fall in most larger cities. The course is 66 hours, and in some states like New York it's worth three college credits. Course fee is about $150-200, although I went on scholarship when I was unemployed. Upon graduation you will receive a certificate and will be highly employable by any tax preparation or CPA firm. If you are bilingual, your skills will be even more marketable. PS: I don't work for Block, but I learned the basics there. It was worth all the time invested.

Answer 3

You don't have to have a certificate, but if you're going to be doing strangers taxes, they're going to want to see something to prove that you know what you're doing. If you're just going to be doing friends though, or through word of mouth, then no, you don't need to have any certificate. Don't try to claim you're a CPA or anything though.

Answer 4

No. You just have to know what you're doing. You can't pass yourself of as a certified financial planner or CPA, though.