If you’ve already completed our Comprehensive Tax Course, congrats! If you’re currently working through it or just considering taking it, you might be asking yourself what’s next? Completion of our Comprehensive Tax Course means that you’ve learned how to prepare taxes for most Form 1040 individuals, non-business taxpayers and small business taxpayers (self-employed/Schedule C). You’ve also learned how to research tax issues. What’s next for you depends on how far you want to go as a tax preparer. Here are some options.
Start Preparing Taxes
You haven’t learned all there is to tax preparation but you are certainly ready to prepare taxes for the general public! Upon completion of our Comprehensive Tax Course, you will need to register with the IRS for a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number). You will also need to decide whether you want to work for yourself or for someone else. If you want to work for someone else, November is a great time of year to begin looking for a position and setting up interviews. Some places may hire you early to help with the start of tax season or for additional in-house training with their software, procedures, etc.
Getting Hired as a New Preparer
If you decide you would like to start your own tax preparation business, you will need to start setting up your business. You need to purchase tax software, decide whether or not to work from home, and start networking and telling friends and family right away. The Income Tax School has Tax Practice Manuals you should consider purchasing that will act as a turnkey solution to getting your business off the ground. Here are some other articles to check out:
- How to Get Your Tax Business Off the Ground Before Tax Season
- Low Cost Solutions to Starting a Tax Business
- The Advantages and Disadvantages of Working From Home
- How to Become a Tax Preparer and Start Earning Money Before Tax Season
- Build and Grow Your Tax Business
Keep Learning
Completion of the Comprehensive Tax Course means you can begin preparing taxes right away for the general public but there is more to learn and the more you learn, the more money you will make. Complicated returns take more time and involvement. This means you will be building deeper relationships with clients (loyalty and retention) and also means you can charge more. Learn as much as you can and build on your knowledge each year. You may even consider becoming an Enrolled Agent, the highest credential awarded by the IRS. Here are some more articles to read on continuing tax education.
- Why Learning to Prepare More Complicated Tax Returns is Good For Client Retention
- What it Takes to Become an Enrolled Agent (EA)
- Advanced Tax Preparation Courses
Once you have the Comprehensive Tax Course under your belt, you’ve got lots of choices as a qualified tax preparer. It’s up to you how far you want to go!