Hiring guide · Business & Office
How to Hire a Tax Preparer
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring tax preparers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $54,920), recruit through community college business programs and career centers, verify IRS PTIN where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for tax preparers
There are about 95,800 tax preparers employed in the U.S., with roughly 9,400 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +4.7% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $33,760–$38,910 | $16.23–$18.71 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,300 | $36.68 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $99,270 | $47.73 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- High school diploma or equivalent (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Individual income tax rules
- Attention to detail
Nice-to-haves
- IRS PTIN
- IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP)
- Enrolled Agent (EA)
- Experience with professional tax software
Where to find tax preparers
- Community college business programs and career centers
- Professional associations (such as SHRM, PMI and state CPA societies)
- LinkedIn and niche job boards
- Internal promotion from front-line roles
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Tax Professional, Income Tax Preparer, Seasonal Tax Associate, Enrolled Agent
Screening checklist
- A skills assessment (Excel, writing or role software)
- Credential verification (CPA, PMP, SHRM-CP, paralegal certificate)
- Reference checks focused on reliability and accuracy
- A structured interview with a short work sample
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “What tax software have you used?”
What a strong answer includes: Name tools.
2. “How do you handle a client missing documents?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain follow-up.
3. “How do you stay current on tax law?”
What a strong answer includes: Mention continuing education.
4. “How do you protect client data?”
What a strong answer includes: Show security awareness.
5. “Can you work long hours in season?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Conduct a Tax Interview (see the steps)
- Prepare a Return with Self-Employment Income (see the steps)
- Quality-Review a Return Before Filing (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as PTIN, W-2, 1099
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Tax Preparer 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Tax Preparer training. Show them the path forward: Seasonal Tax Preparer → Senior Preparer → Enrolled Agent → Tax Office Manager or Practice Owner.
Hiring tax preparers: FAQ
How much should I pay a tax preparer?
The U.S. median wage for tax preparers is $54,920 per year ($26.40/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($38,910), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($76,300). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a tax preparer have?
BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education. Look for IRS PTIN and IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) where relevant, plus skills such as individual income tax rules, tax software, and deductions and credits.
How long does it take to train a new tax preparer?
Becoming qualified typically takes 1–3 months of tax training. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “moderate-term on-the-job training.”