INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tax Preparer positions are at a -4% growth rate, which is negative. With that said, there are currently 56,900 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to decrease by -2,100 to 54,800 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Tax Preparer jobs was $55,640 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,180, and the highest 10% more than $105,430.
Our conclusion? The Tax Preparer job market is facing competition due to decreasing demand.
Top tax preparer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a tax preparer resume experience section
Tax preparer resume's job experience checklist:
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don’t go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you’re applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
- Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords;
- Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.
The work experience samples below come from real Tax Preparer resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
- Prepared hundreds of tax returns
- Taught computer classes to community members
- Distributor of international calling cards in central NC
- Prepared both personal and business taxes for clients.
- Completed 6 week tax prep course and received federal license.
- Have never had a tax return flagged or fail an audit.
- Increased revenue by 50% from 2014-2016.
- Answering clients’ queries about appropriate tax deductions in a timely manner.
- Using all appropriate credits and deductions to keep clients' taxes payable to a minimum.
- Reviewing documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- E-filing of T1’s income tax returns to Canada Revenue Agency.
- Prepared simple to complex tax returns for individual clients
- Specialized in ITIN’s, Multi-State Returns, Foreign Tax Credits, and Visa status
- Created more than 800 tax returns, and worked more than 940 hours during the tax season
- Answered emails regarding tax situation, audits, and relevant tax benefits during the off-season
- Worked while attending a class
- Prepared over 250 simple/complex income tax returns for individuals
- Used all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients’ taxes to a minimum
- Reviewed previous financial records to effectively prepare the return
- Directly communicated with client or partner in charge to obtain additional information
- Prepared over 250 simple/complex income tax returns for individuals
- Used all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients’ taxes to a minimum
- Directly communicated with client or partner in charge to obtain additional information
- Prepared over 250 simple/complex income tax returns for individuals
- Used all appropriate adjustments to keep clients’ taxes to a minimum
- Directly communicated with client or partner in charge to obtain additional information
- Provided tax advice to clients and collaboratively worked with clients to provide optimal solutions
- Reviewed clients’ tax forms and financial information
- Prepared clients’ income tax returns and submitted accurately to the government with ProFile software
- Greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person inquiries/requests for information
- Performed general office duties: filing, scanning, mail processing, and data entry
- Advise clients in the tax preparation process and prepare and file tax documents.
- Interviewed clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Take incoming calls from clients to answer tax questions and set up tax preparation appointments.
- Filed tax returns and prepared government reports in compliance with strict standards
- Computed taxes owed by applying prescribed rates, laws and regulations
- Prepared financial documents for presentation to senior management
- Responsible for income tax preparation for individuals and companies
- Question clients to obtain information on taxable income and deductible expenses
- Enter and verify forms prepared by customers to detect errors in data entry
- Evaluate financial records such as 1099’S, W2’s, income statements and documentation of expenditures
- Developing and maintaining over 300 clients
- Conducting initial meetings and follow up with clients
- Productively network and market business to develop customer base and increase clientèle
- Filed tax returns and prepared government reports in compliance with strict standards
- Computed taxes owed by applying prescribed rates, laws, and regulations
- Prepared financial documents for presentation to senior management
- Prepared over 500 tax returns during tax season.
- Interviewed clients and reviewed their financial documents to evaluate credit eligibilities and recommended action plans, seeking best results for clients.
- Reviewed and verified accuracy of tax returns prepared by other Bookkeepers.
- Set up PA sales tax licenses and filed quarterly sales tax returns.
- Performed bookkeeping services for business clients including monthly, quarterly, and annual profit and loss statements.
- Issued 1099's to subcontractors.
- Notarized vehicle title transfers and registration renewals.
- Charged with developing and executing sales strategies nationwide
- Handled escalated customer service issues by using approved company procedure
- Prepare Federal and State tax returns according to IRS law face to face and over the phone
- Performed research and analysis on mutual funds for inclusion in firm's model portfolios and presented recommendations to Investment Committee
- Prepared and completed 270 individual, partnership, fiduciary and corporate tax returns
- Developed strong, trusting relationships with tax preparation clients that led to financial investing and insurance product sales
- Received a financial bonus for serving more than 300 customers during the 2008 tax season
- Focused on giving 150 clients the best service with timely and accurate tax return completion
- Completed 6 week tax prep course and received federal license
- Preparation of consolidated tax returns with turnover of over $50 million
- Managed a young group of 15 tax and legal professionals
- Created more than 800 tax returns, and worked more than 940 hours during the tax season
PRO TIP
Check the Tax Preparer job description for inspiration. Look for similarities between your employer’s values and your experience.
Action verbs for your tax preparer resume
Recommended reads.":
Tax Preparer Resume Skills’ Tips & Tricks to Impress Recruiters
Resume skills section checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top skills for your tax preparer resume
MFC
RPC
WCF
WPF
SAP
BW
Tableau
Alteryx
Spotfire
SAS
Communication
Planning and organisation
Prioritization
Efficiency
Responsibility
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Customer service
Phone Etiquette
Discretion
PRO TIP
Avoid getting sidetracked by Applicant tracking software by including a tech skills' section matching the job description and your own qualifications.
Recommended Reads:
Tax preparer resume header: Tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your tax preparer resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Tax Preparer resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Tax preparer resume summary best practices
Checklist: What to include in your Tax Preparer resume summary:
- Years of experience;
- Highlight top 3 skills and proficiencies;
- One big professional accomplishment you’re most proud of, that you can tie with the aforementioned skills;
- Use short, direct sentences - but no more than three - to keep the HRs interested.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
Recommended reads:
Listing your education, certifications and courses
resume education section checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Certifications for your Tax Preparer Resume
Tax Preparation: Learn Fast! Prepare Taxes with Confidence!
Become a confident tax preparer by learning about taxes and applications over practical examples and scenarios.
How to Prepare Your U.S. Federal Tax Returns Online
Master Income Tax Preparation Using TurboTax
Tax Preparation and Law 2021, 2020, 2019 & 2018 - Income Tax
Income tax preparation Form 1040 and supporting schedules taught by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
How to Become a Tax Preparer and Earn Big Part-Time
Includes Marketing, Online and Offline, How to Grow Your Business
Fundamentals of Business Taxes
Learn the fundamentals of business taxes and understand the basics of doing taxes for your business
Recommended Reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Tax Preparer. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
How to write a tax preparer resume
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Tax Preparer resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company (corporation or start-up; innovative or traditional), job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Tax Preparer resume:
Tax preparer resume: How to make yours more creative & stand out
When you send your resume to a potential employer, chances are it's the fiftieth one they've seen that day. That's why you need to make your Tax Preparer resume stand out for the right reasons. That means showing your personality, not just your professional experience. Employers are far more likely to remember a candidate who seems like a genuine person and not a robot. Do this by including your passions (which is also a great place to demonstrate skills on a resume), share your favorite books, or even what your usual day looks like.
What makes a great tax preparer resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
