Skills
Tax Preparer Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in tax preparers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do tax preparers need?
Tax Preparers need technical skills such as individual income tax rules, tax software, and deductions and credits, plus people skills like attention to detail and client communication. They also use tools such as Professional tax software and IRS e-file systems.
Technical (hard) skills
- Individual income tax rules
- Tax software
- Deductions and credits
- Small business returns
- Document review
- E-filing
People (soft) skills
- Attention to detail
- Client communication
- Trustworthiness
- Time management
Tools, equipment and technology
- Professional tax software
- IRS e-file systems
- Document scanners
- Client portals
- Spreadsheets
- IRS publications and research tools
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how tax preparers put their skills to work:
- How to conduct a tax interview
- How to prepare a return with self-employment income
- How to quality-review a return before filing
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Individual income tax rules” and “Tax software.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “attention to detail,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as IRS PTIN near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our tax preparer glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Tax Preparer training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.