How to Train as an Income Tax Preparer

Preparing income taxes can be a lifetime career.

Becoming an income tax preparer is a great way to create extra income not just during tax season but all year. There are several ways to get the training that is required. It can simply be from the experience of being the family tax preparer, taking courses at a local community college or through on-the-job training with one of the major income tax preparation companies. Be aware, however, that the Internal Revenue Service is in the process of creating an entirely new process of ensuring that all tax preparers are licensed and authorized to do so.

Instructions

1. Check with your local community college to see if any courses are being offered in basic income tax preparation for the time frame that you would like to attend.

2. Check with the major income tax preparation companies in your area to find out about their on-the-job training programs. Most smaller companies want someone who is experienced in preparing taxes.

3. Visit the Internal Revenue Service's website and study the information that is available to professional income tax preparers. Order any materials that the IRS offers at no cost to help you in learning and to have as reference material when you are doing taxes.

Tips & Warnings

• Print some blank tax forms and practice completing them. Create different imaginary families and home businesses to work with.

References

• Internal Revenue Service:Forms and Publications
• Internal Revenue Service: Tax Professionals
• Internal Revenue Service: Proposed New Requirements for Tax Return Preparers