Are you a tax expert? You can use that to launch your work-from-home dreams!
At-hometax preparationand tax advising jobs are two fantasticwork-at-home opportunitiesfor anyone with abookkeepingoraccountingbackground.
Whether you want to transition intofull-timeentrepreneurship or you just want to pick up some extra money during thebusy season, don’t miss this opportunity to put your skills to work to bring home some serious earnings.
There are basically two ways to work from home doingtax preparationservices: contract with an existing company or start your own. Let’s take a look at each option.
Contracting with a Tax Company
Whether it’s a large companylikeIntuit(Turbotax) or a small local firm, many accounting firms hire seasonal contract work to help them get through the first few months of the year, when the bulk of Americans are filing their income taxes. There are also year-round positions available, though those aren’t as easy to find.
Some good job boards that offer job listings for at-hometax preparationorvirtual taxinclude:
Many of these jobs will be for seasonal work, but you will also find accounting firms both large and small looking for some telecommute help, bothpart-timeandfull-time. Many of those permanent positions take a broader scope than just taxes; like financial projections,tax research,bookkeeping, payroll, or reconcilingfinancial statements, but if you’re interested in doing taxes because you want to use those skills in an at-home situation, these jobs are certainly worth a look.
You can also go to the big tax firms and apply directly with them. These include:
1-800Accountant
1-800Accountant is looking for experienced remote tax advisors, and you should be either anEA(Enrolled Agent) orCPA(certified public accountant.) They want you to be up to date on all the latest tax codes and be invested in providing personalized service. You should also be proactive and self-directed in finding answers and communicating with clients. Problem-solving and analytical thinking skills are also important for this role. You should have a BS in Accounting (or another relevant degree; can be substituted with appropriate experience), and have participated in at least two previous tax seasons – see the job listing for more details.
Bright! Tax
Bright! is particularly looking for RemoteCPAsorEAswho can support their senior consultants, especially in assisting ex-pat Americans in the preparation of theirindividual income tax returns. These positions involve efficiently managing workflow and providing excellent client communication. You should also be proactive and self-managing. They prefer previous tax prep experience, and payment seems to be on a per-project basis.
CyberCoders
Cybercoders is looking for folks to manage their client projects from bookkeeping all the way through completing their tax returns. You’ll need to be able to understand complicated financial issues, have good research skills, and be a great communicator. They also would like someone with experience with tax software such as Intuit Pro Connect and QuickBooks, as well as a PTIN and expertise in tax compliance requirements for individuals and businesses. You should also have CPA certification and five years or more experience in tax accounting.
H&R Block
H&R Block regularly hires remote seasonal tax help – users of their services tend to do their taxes themselves, and specialists are needed to answer any questions that pop up, which may include doing research to find the necessary answers. They hire from a wide range of backgrounds for this position – you could be a CPA or EA, or perhaps simply be a student. To succeed in this role, you must have research skills, be a clear communicator, and have the capacity to build an easy rapport with clients.
Intuit
Intuitlooks for seasonal tax associates based on their location – and these positions require that you have experience preparing and supporting various types oftax returns. Some listed requirements are the previous preparation of a certain number oftax returns, excellent written and verbalcommunication skills, and solid critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In order to find the work-at-home job opportunities withIntuit, be sure to search for “remote” in their jobs directory.
Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt also offers some work-from-home positions, including as a seasonal processing clerk. This position involves scheduling appointments, monitoring those appointments, answering basictax questions, and also tracking the progress ontax returnprep. You would make calls as necessary to clients or preparers for assistance or additional information and complete other admin duties. They don’t require prior tax experience – just acollege degree(or you should be enrolled in a degree program) and great computer andcommunication skills.
Working Solutions
You’ll find various tax season-related positions available at Working Solutions as you scroll through their search results. As usual, most of theseremote positionsrequire you to be an excellent communicator (both verbally and in writing) and have good self-directedresearch skills. They’re also heavily customer service oriented, and often require some customer service experience or experience with accounting or tax software.
Freelance Tax Prep
When you want to work from home, one of the things to consider is taking your skills and going solo as a freelancer, as opposed to getting into an employment relationship with a firm.
It’s no different withtax preparation.
If you have the background and credentials to back it up, freelancetax preparationis a great opportunity to bring in some money while working from home, whether it’s your only gig or yourside hustle.
As it goes with tax prep in general, you’ll earn the bulk of your income in the first four months of the year, and you’ll be able to take a lot of time off later in the year. If you’re good with crunch time and then free time — which you probably are if you’re looking for tax prep work! — this could be a great opportunity to go freelance.
One thing to note if you’re going to open your owntax preparationbusiness: you need to keep absolutely current on federal and state income tax laws, which are constantly changing. When you’re working for yourself, there’s no corporate training to bring you up to speed. You’re on your own for that, so be proactive.
Anyone getting paid to prepare or help preparetax returnsneeds a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) from the IRS. This is a quick and easy online process that is absolutely free.Here is a checklistof what you will need when applying.
You’ll also need toregister with the IRSif you want to file returns electronically. This is the federal government’s application to participate in the e-file program with the IRS. This is a multi-step process, but none of the steps are particularly difficult, and following through is critical for your business.
Your clients will likely expect you to e-file for them (and get their refunds to them more quickly) and the only way to do that on their behalf is to register beforehand.It could take two months or morefrom start to finish, so I’d recommend you get started right away. Otherwise, you’ll lose the advantage of being able to e-file on behalf of your clients, and your business may suffer before it’s even off the ground!
You’ll also need to register your business with your Secretary of State and find out what requirements you’ll need — some states require licenses, insurance, and other things.
Decide whether or not it’s worth putting up a website for your at-home tax prep business. Generally speaking, it shouldn’t take a lot of time to get a bare-bones website done, so I usually recommend it. It’s not a requirement, though — I’ve known several at-hometax preparerswho didn’t have a website or even business cards. They just simply rely on word of mouth and referrals.
When it comes to finding your first clients, you’ve got a few options. You can look for work on sites like Craigslist and LinkedIn, advertise your services on social media (like the local Facebook group for moms in your area), or spread the word in your personal network. Preferably, you’ll pursue all three. Many people will offer a reduced rate for their first handful of clients to get the ball rolling. If you make them happyandyou do a good job of marketing, you’ll soon find that clients come to you through referrals. This is a job whereprior tax preparation experienceis incredibly important.
There’s No Wrong Answer
If you’ve got the background, doing tax prep at home is a great way to work from home and still make a living on your ownschedule. Whether you contract or go freelance, you’ll be putting your skills to use, boosting your bottom line, and working one-on-one with clients who really need your help. Each route can lead to a satisfying at-home job!
Published December 2016. Updated November 2022.
