Blog - National Tax Training School

Side income has become more than just a trend. For many people, it’s a necessity.

Whether it’s to offset rising costs, create financial flexibility, or build something beyond a primary job, the idea of earning additional income is appealing. But not all side income opportunities are created equal.

Some are short-term. Some depend on constant hustle. And some never grow into anything substantial.

The question isn’t just how to make extra money.

It’s how to build income that is reliable, scalable, and worth your time.

What Makes a Good Side Income Opportunity

Before choosing a path, it’s important to understand what separates a strong opportunity from a weak one.

A worthwhile side income should offer:

Many popular side hustles fall short in one or more of these areas. They may generate quick cash, but they don’t always lead to long-term growth.

That’s where service-based skills stand out.

Why Service-Based Income Works

Service-based income is built on providing value that people are willing to pay for repeatedly.

Unlike product-based or gig-based work, where income is often tied to volume or availability, service-based work allows you to increase your value as your expertise grows.

This creates a different kind of trajectory.

You’re not just earning more because you’re doing more.

You’re earning more because you’re getting better.

And that’s what makes it sustainable.

Why a Tax Business Stands Out

Among service-based opportunities, starting a tax business is one of the most practical ways to build a reliable income stream.

Every year, individuals and businesses need help preparing their taxes. That demand does not go away.

The opportunity is not the issue.

The gap is knowing how to actually do the work and turn it into a business.

A tax business is built on recurring demand. Clients don’t come once. They come back every year.

As your experience grows, so does your ability to handle more complex returns and increase your pricing. What often starts with individual returns can expand into working with business clients, offering additional services, and building long-term relationships.

Many professionals begin part-time and scale gradually into a full-time operation.

Starting Small, Growing Strategically

One of the biggest advantages of a tax business as a side income is that it doesn’t require an all-or-nothing approach.

You can start with a small number of clients and build from there.

In the beginning, that might look like:

Over time, as confidence and experience increase, so does capacity.

That’s when the side income starts to turn into something more substantial.

The Skill Behind the Income

The key to making this work is not the tools you use. It’s the skill you build.

Tax preparation is not just about completing forms. It’s about understanding how taxation works, knowing what to look for, and being able to guide clients through the process.

When you have that foundation, you are no longer limited.

You can:

This is what turns a side income into a real business.

At National Tax Training School, the focus is on building that foundation. The goal is to teach the concepts behind taxation so you can apply them confidently in real situations and grow from there.

Common Mistakes That Hold People Back

Like any opportunity, success depends on how you approach it.

There are a few common patterns that tend to limit growth:

Relying entirely on software without understanding the underlying principles makes it difficult to handle anything beyond basic returns.

Underpricing services may attract clients early on, but it prevents long-term growth and makes it hard to scale.

Ignoring continuing education leads to outdated knowledge, which impacts both accuracy and credibility over time.

Each of these issues can be avoided by focusing on fundamentals and treating the work as a professional service from the beginning.

Other Side Income Options to Consider

While a tax business is a strong option, it’s worth understanding how it compares to other common side income paths.

Gig work, such as ridesharing or delivery, offers flexibility but is limited by time and effort. Income stops when the work stops.

Online selling can be profitable, but often requires upfront investment, inventory management, and ongoing marketing.

Freelancing offers potential, but can take time to build a steady client base and often depends on competitive pricing.

Compared to these, tax preparation offers a balance of stability, scalability, and skill-based growth.

Turning Opportunity Into Income

The difference between people who successfully build side income and those who don’t is not access to opportunity.

It’s execution.

Starting a tax business is not about learning a tool. It is about building a skill that has consistent demand.

When you understand taxation, you are no longer dependent on one platform or one opportunity. You can work independently, build a client base, and grow your income over time.

Final Thoughts

There is no shortage of side income opportunities.

But very few offer the combination of consistency, growth, and long-term potential that comes from building a real skill.

A tax business is one of those opportunities.

The demand is there. The path is clear.

The next step is deciding whether you’re going to take advantage of it.

At National Tax Training School, the focus is on giving you the foundation to do exactly that.

From the outside, tax preparation can look straightforward.

Enter the numbers. File the return. Move on.

But for a knowledgeable tax preparer, that’s not the job.

The real value is in understanding where money can be saved—and knowing how to apply the rules to make that happen.

In many cases, the difference between a basic return and a well-prepared one isn’t small. It can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars.

It Starts With Asking the Right Questions

Most clients don’t come in with perfectly organized, complete information.

They bring what they think matters.

A strong tax preparer knows that what’s missing is often just as important as what’s provided.

Instead of simply taking documents and filing, they ask questions like:

These questions uncover opportunities that clients don’t think to mention on their own.

Identifying Missed Deductions

One of the most direct ways tax preparers save clients money is by identifying deductions that would otherwise be missed.

For example:

A client who does freelance work may not realize that certain expenses can reduce their taxable income. A preparer can help identify deductions such as:

Even something as simple as properly tracking mileage can result in significant savings over the course of a year.

Without someone guiding that process, those deductions are often left on the table.

Structuring Income and Expenses Properly

It’s not just about what you claim—it’s about how it’s categorized.

Take a small business owner as an example.

If income and expenses are not organized properly, the result can be a higher tax bill than necessary. A tax preparer helps ensure that everything is structured correctly so that the client is not overpaying.

This might include:

These adjustments may seem small, but they add up quickly.

Using Credits That Clients Don’t Know About

Tax credits can directly reduce the amount of tax owed, but many clients are not aware of what they qualify for.

A tax preparer helps identify and apply credits such as:

For example, a family paying for childcare may not realize that a portion of those costs can reduce their tax liability. Applying the correct credit can make a meaningful difference.

Timing Matters More Than People Realize

Sometimes saving money isn’t about changing what you do, but when you do it.

A tax preparer may advise a client to:

These are decisions most people don’t think about on their own, but they can have a direct impact on how much is owed.

Helping Clients Avoid Overpaying

Many clients simply assume that whatever result they get is correct.

But without proper guidance, it’s easy to overpay without realizing it.

A tax preparer reviews the full picture and ensures that nothing is overlooked.

Avoiding Costly Mistakes

Saving money is not only about reducing taxes. It’s also about avoiding errors that can cost more later.

Incorrect filings can lead to penalties, interest charges, and amendments that take time and effort to fix

A careful, knowledgeable preparer helps prevent these issues by ensuring accuracy from the start.

Turning Tax Filing Into Ongoing Value

The best tax preparers don’t just focus on one return.

They think ahead.

They help clients understand what actions they can take during the year to improve their tax situation next time. That might include better record-keeping, smarter financial decisions, or planning for upcoming changes.

Over time, this creates a relationship where the client is not just filing taxes—they’re actively managing them.

Why Knowledge Makes the Difference

All of this comes down to one thing: understanding.

Knowing what to look for, what to ask, and how to apply the rules is what allows a tax preparer to consistently save clients money.

This is exactly the kind of foundation that National Tax Training School focuses on. By teaching how taxation actually works, not just what to enter, students are able to recognize real opportunities and apply them in practice.

That’s what turns tax preparation into a valuable service.

Final Thoughts

Tax preparation is often treated like a task.

In reality, it’s a skill.

When done right, the impact is clear.

Clients pay less. They feel more confident. And they come back year after year.

For many people considering getting into tax preparation, the first instinct is to look at software.

It seems logical. If the software walks you through each step, asks the right questions, and fills out the forms, then maybe that’s all you need.

The Appeal of Software

There’s a reason software feels like the answer.

It simplifies the process. It breaks tax returns into manageable steps. It gives the impression that as long as you follow the prompts, everything will be handled correctly.

For someone with no background, that structure feels reassuring.

What Software Actually Does

At its core, tax software is designed to:

It follows a system based entirely on what you enter.

But it does not evaluate your thinking. It does not question your assumptions. It does not guide you through situations that fall outside a standard path.

The quality of the return depends on the person using it.

Where Software Breaks Down

The limitations show up the moment a return becomes less straightforward.

A client has multiple income sources.
Expenses are unclear.
There are deductions that aren’t obvious.
Something doesn’t quite fit the standard flow.

At that point, the software stops being helpful.

It doesn’t explain what matters, what doesn’t, or why one approach might be better than another.

Without real understanding, you’re left guessing.

The Difference Between Following Steps and Knowing What You’re Doing

There is a big difference between completing a return and understanding it.

When you understand taxation, you know what to look for before you even open the software. You know what questions to ask your client, what information matters, and where opportunities might exist.

You are not reacting to prompts. You are leading the process.

That is what allows you to move beyond basic returns and start working with confidence.

Why Confidence Doesn’t Come From Software

One of the biggest concerns for people entering tax is the fear of making mistakes.

That fear doesn’t go away just because you have software.

If anything, it increases when you don’t fully understand what’s happening behind the scenes. Every unfamiliar situation becomes a point of hesitation.

Confidence comes from understanding.

When you know how tax rules work, you don’t rely on guesswork. You make decisions based on logic, not prompts.

That’s what allows you to work with clients without second-guessing yourself.

The Risk You Take Without Real Knowledge

When you rely only on software, you are taking on risk without realizing it.

A return can be completed and filed without obvious errors, even if something was missed or handled incorrectly. Over time, those gaps show up.

This can lead to missed savings for clients, incorrect filings, and loss of trust.

Clients assume you know what you’re doing. They are not paying for software. They are paying for your judgment.

That responsibility requires more than basic familiarity with a platform.

What Clients Actually Expect From You

Clients are not just looking for someone to enter numbers.

They want someone who can guide them.

They expect you to:

Software cannot do that on its own.

This is where real knowledge becomes your advantage.

Why Learning the Skill Changes Everything

If you want to take tax seriously, you need to learn how it works.

Not just how to click through screens, but how to think through a return from start to finish.

That’s the difference between someone who can only handle simple filings and someone who can build a real client base.

This is exactly why structured training exists.

At National Tax Training School, students are taught the fundamentals of taxation in a way that builds real understanding, not dependency on a specific tool. That’s what allows them to work confidently, no matter which software they use.

Software Becomes Valuable Once You Understand the Work

Software is not the problem. It’s the order in which people approach it.

When you start with software, you stay dependent on it.

When you start with knowledge, software becomes a tool that supports you.

At that point, it helps you move faster, stay organized, and handle more volume. But it is no longer something you rely on to tell you what to do.

Every Software Is Different

Another issue most beginners don’t consider is that not all tax software works the same way.

Each platform has its own structure, flow, terminology, and way of asking questions. If your knowledge is tied to one system, you are limited to that system.

The moment you switch platforms, everything feels unfamiliar again.

At National Tax Training School, the focus is not on teaching one specific software. The goal is to teach the underlying concepts of taxation so you can apply them across any platform.

Once you understand how taxes work, the software becomes interchangeable. You’re no longer dependent on one system to guide you.

The Real Shift: From User to Professional

There is a clear difference between someone who uses tax software and someone who works in tax.

A user follows steps.

A professional understands the process, makes decisions, and takes responsibility for the outcome.

That shift is what allows you to:

And that shift only happens when you learn the actual skill.

National Tax Training School is built around that transition. The goal is to take someone from having no background to being able to confidently prepare returns and work with real clients.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about getting into tax, don’t make the mistake of thinking software is enough.

It isn’t.

Software can guide you through a process, but it cannot replace understanding. It cannot give you confidence, and it cannot make decisions for you.

To build something real in this field, you need to know what you’re doing.

Once you have that, everything else becomes easier. The software makes sense. The work becomes clearer. And the opportunity becomes something you can actually act on.

That’s the difference between trying tax and actually building something with it.

Step 1: Learn Taxation, Not Just Software

This is the most important step, and the one most often overlooked.

Many beginners try to learn tax software first. The problem is that software only guides inputs. It does not teach you how taxation works.

To build a real business, you need to understand:

As an approved IRS CE provider, this is exactly the type of foundation National Tax Training School provides, focusing on real understanding rather than just software use.

Once you understand the logic, you can work across any platform and handle a wider range of client situations. This is what allows you to move beyond simple returns and build confidence in your work.

Step 2: Handle Certification and Legal Requirements

Before taking on clients, you need to be properly set up.

Anyone preparing federal tax returns for compensation must obtain a PTIN from the IRS. This is a required identification number for paid tax preparers. We have a module in the course which provides guidance for registering for a PTIN.

Beyond that, requirements vary. Most states do not require a formal license, but some do. For example, California requires approved education for tax preparers, while other states (like OR, MD, and NY) have their own registration or continuing education rules.

National Tax is an approved educational provider by the state of CA. We also have a course which provides guidance for the State of MD requirements.

There are also IRS-recognized continuing education programs that, while not always mandatory, help maintain compliance, improve credibility, and keep your knowledge current.

Handling these requirements early positions you as a professional and avoids issues later on.

Step 3: Set Up Your Business Structure

Even if you’re starting small, structure matters.

Most tax preparers choose a simple setup such as an LLC to create separation between personal and business liability. You will also need a business name, an EIN, and a dedicated business bank account.

Step 4: Choose the Right Tools

There are several strong options in the market, and most will allow you to prepare returns efficiently. The key is not which software you choose, but how well you understand what you are doing within it.

Tax software is part of your workflow, but it should not define your capability. When your knowledge is solid, switching or adapting to different tools becomes easy.

Step 5: Get Your First Clients

You don’t need a large marketing system to start.

Most tax businesses begin by serving people already within reach. This includes friends, family, and local connections. From there, referrals naturally follow when the work is done well.

Reach out to:

Send out an email letting people know you’re getting started. Offer a discounted rate to your first clients. Ask clients for referrals once they’ve had a good experience.

As trust builds, so does your client base. Over time, you can add more structured marketing, but consistency and reliability are what drive early traction.

Step 6: Focus on the Client Experience

Tax preparation is not just about filing returns. It is a trust-based service.

Clients want to feel confident that their taxes were handled correctly. They also want clarity. When you communicate clearly, stay organized, and explain outcomes in a way they understand, you create a better experience.

Throw in something extra. Go beyond the return itself, such as advising on IRA contributions or identifying additional opportunities for tax savings.

This is what leads to retention. And in a tax business, retention is what creates stability.

Step 7: Stay Current With Tax Law

Tax law changes every year, and staying updated is part of the job.

Continuing education plays a key role in maintaining accuracy and credibility. It ensures that you are working with the most current information and allows you to confidently handle evolving scenarios.

At National Tax Training School, we keep our alumni up-to-date with the ever-changing tax laws.

Professionals who stay current are better positioned to serve clients and avoid costly errors.

Most people will keep thinking about getting into tax. Very few will actually start.

Not because they can’t do it, but because they never take the time to learn how it works.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already further than most.

The question now is simple:
Are you going to keep thinking about it, or actually move forward? 🔥

The IRS has released final regulations which modify the standards governing written tax advice and also eliminates the complex opinion rules in Circular 230 by replacing them with a new competence standard. Section 10.35 now requires practitioners to “possess the necessary competence to engage in practice before the Internal Revenue Service” and states that “competent practice requires the appropriate level of knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation necessary for the matter for which the practitioner is engaged.” The final rules also allow practitioners to remove the Circular 230 notices at the end of emails, which will make communications with clients less complex.

In the regulations, the IRS pointed out that individuals subject to Circular 230 requirements must meet minimum standards of conduct with respect to written tax advice, and those who do not should be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension or disbarment. In accordance with these principles, the regulations have been amended from time to time to address issues relating to tax opinions and written tax advice.

The new regulations modify the rules governing written tax advice along with some related provisions of Circular 230 to ensure that practitioners meet certain standards of conduct when serving as taxpayer representatives before the IRS. The new rules also modify the consequences of failing to meet those standards, including expedited suspension provisions.

What Happens In The Tax World At The End Of A Calendar Year?

Something interesting happens during this time of the year. First, all those hundreds of IRS tax forms and their related instructions that we know about, are mostly getting updated and those newer versions start getting released. Generally, the IRS starts releasing these forms around Thanksgiving time. That’s when the tax preparers expect to see the new versions of forms. Tax professionals look forward to this time of year as it clarifies a lot about previously confusing changes to the tax law.

Second, Congress and the political administration have to deal with expiring tax provisions. In other words, there are temporary tax provisions every year that are implemented as a result of the current economic lay of the land. It’s quite common to have certain provisions that are created for just one tax year. When Congress comes into session, around Thanksgiving till New Years (January 1st), the lawmakers have to decide which tax extenders will be left to expire and which laws will be extended. This process affects a lot of the final law, and influences the final provisions which are going to go into effect in January of the new year which is when the tax season starts.

When Do Students Learn About The Latest Provisions On The Tax Law?

As an IRS approved provider of continuing education of tax preparation, this is the time of year when National Tax Training School offers annual updates and refresher courses. Additionally, when we teach about 2022 forms which have not been available up until this point, the fourth quarter is the time when we start integrating the newer forms into the courses. On a related note, tax software developers are extremely busy at this time of the year because they have to integrate these new forms into their offerings. These companies have a small window from Thanksgiving until the end of the year to update their software and tax programs and integrate the new forms and calculations. All this is what happens behind the scenes in the tax world at this time of the year.

What Are The Advantages Of Starting A Career In Tax Preparation During This Time Of The Year

Professionals thinking about a new career in tax preparation at this time of the year have the advantage of actually becoming familiar with things that are current, live and happening right now. In other words, one is dealing with the practical and timely vs. the theoretical. It’s much more imminent given that things are happening just around the corner. Congress at this time is passing laws, and figures, rules and numbers are getting finalized. Individuals that are ready to learn taxation are actually more tuned in, and can relate much better to the news and to the changes.

At this time of the year, as we get close to tax season, people start asking tax questions. Clients of tax professionals seek tax advice pertaining to this current year and also how to prepare themselves for the upcoming new year.

One has to position themselves at the onset of the upcoming year regarding their spending and purchasing as to how it affects them financially in their tax bracket. Everyone wants to make sure that their business expenses, investments, earnings and income are set up properly to their advantage for the upcoming year.

As an example, if there are any questions regarding business deductions that are set to expire, the tax preparer would advise to spend more now since they will get the immediate benefits vs. waiting to expense after January 1st when they are no longer valid.

Should A Tax Preparer Participate in Continuing Education At This Time of the Year?

Yes. The IRS has designed a voluntary continuing education program called the Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) and National Tax is an approved provider. The program helps the practicing tax preparer keep up with all changes, reinforces their knowledge of common tax provisions and reminds tax professionals of their ethical responsibilities. Although this is not required by law, there are significant benefits to the course.

Benefits of Participating in Continuing Education:

Becoming current with changes to the new tax laws
Getting listed in the IRS directory for tax preparers
Better representational rights for their clients before the IRS

In order for tax preparers to take full advantage of this offering, the program needs to be completed by December 31st.

What Bookkeepers Shouldn’t Miss This Tax Season

Bookkeepers, as trusted advisors, are very much involved at this time of year in handling, managing and closing books for the end of the year. Additionally, Bookkeepers are very much involved in people’s personal finances and preparing for the upcoming tax year. Each one of these clients are required to have their taxes filed, so it would be understandably beneficial for the bookkeeper to offer this service as well. Both bookkeepers and clients want to start a new year having everything in place.

Why Is It Important To Be Prepared For The Tax Season

Upon every upcoming tax season, Tax Preparation and CPA firms need to be educated and gear up for an increase in new customers and clients. National Tax prepares the preparers to prepare. At this time of year, CPA firms with a potentially heavy workload, are seeking and searching for newly trained professionals in the industry. They’re going to hire you for the upcoming tax season, you’re going to get benefits and you will gain a lot of experience. Professionals might start on the lower rung of the ladder, but it’s the best time to be hired by these CPA firms.

Why Insurance Agents and Brokers Make Good Tax Preparers

Similar to Bookkeepers, Insurance Agents and Brokers are trusted advisors that have an existing client base. This access to insurance policies and financial portfolios enables them to be familiar with their client’s finances, investments and incomes. This access provides another good potential opportunity to offer tax preparation service. They might find that their clients are just going to some untrained tax preparer, or some unreliable and unattentive group of tax preparer franchises. Alternatively, these agents are able to offer them personalized and responsible attention that will serve them best.

Why It’s Not Too Late To Enroll To A Tax Preparation Course This Time Of The Year

The duration of the National Tax Federal Income Tax course is about 150 hours and anyone can complete this in about 8 to 10 weeks. When you do the calculations and you think like a tax preparer, dealing with numbers, we estimate 150 hours. If you apply yourself for about two hours daily, then it’s very doable in eight weeks. All in all, you should approximate around 60 days or two months and you will have ample time to complete the course.

When you invest two hours a day, a number of things can happen. First, you might need more time. You might be able to devote more time to this if your schedule allows. On the other hand, if your schedule doesn’t allow for 2 consecutive hours, then it can be broken down to different times of the day. Perhaps a little bit in the morning or evening or whenever you have time, perhaps on the weekends. Second, it depends on how well you grasp the issues at hand. Certain areas of the tax course can be completed at a much quicker pace. Other aspects require you to pay more attention.

Tax season officially starts on January 1st. Technically though, the IRS does not release some of the forms before January 1st. This can go well into January. Tax preparation software developers find themselves releasing and finalizing product updates well into the month. Generally, clients are not yet seeking tax preparation services, so you have more time. You have the advantage of learning and practically being involved in it while it’s happening. So when January 1st arrives, you are ready to start. By this time, you have already learned quite a lot to be able to service clients. You might not have wrapped up your training yet, but you’re becoming more aware and alert to finish it and apply what you’re learning.

Is It Recommended To Start Your Own Tax Preparer Business Rather Than Starting By Working For Others

There are obviously two options: either you start up your own tax practice or work for a CPA firm or any tax preparation firm. At National Tax, we like to encourage students to pursue independent careers and start up their own businesses. There are a lot of advantages to owning your own business; opportunities, flexibility, independence, and the potential to build a solid growing client base. However, some people find this too much of a burden, and prefer to work for others. Over all, it really depends on your personality, how ambitious you are and how you approach it. Whichever way you decide, this is the time of the year to make it happen.

It is important to note that whichever way you decide, there is no pressure since it’s not necessary that it has to be full time. When we talk about going out on your own, you should start with your own taxes, which you’re going to need to do very shortly for yourself. Then comes family, friends, and acquaintances who will all need these services fulfilled. Since there is a personal connection, you have a much better opportunity reaching out to them as an independent tax preparer.

Summary: Looking Towards a New Year and a New Career

In this article we discussed what happens in the tax world at the end of a calendar year. At National Tax Training School, we plant seeds to encourage our students to prepare themselves for a better career, a better income, a productive future and a more fulfilled life. Learn more about our organization by visiting our website or just give us a call.

About National Tax Training School (NTTS)

National Tax Training School was founded in 1952 and over the past 60+ years has grown into the most recognized and respected distance learning institution dedicated to training its students in US federal taxation. NTTS is dedicated to providing Federal Income Tax Courses, IRS Annual Filing Education, Tax Preparation Classes, and IRS Annual Filing Season Programs.

Summer and Fall 2022, Back To School, Back To Work, New Career

Summer is the time when most people take vacation and think about what they are going to do after the Labor Day Weekend, which is the sign of when summer usually ends. People think about going back to school, their careers, their pocketbooks, inflation, and how costs are rising. Especially during the summer of 2022 when inflation was at a historical high and gas prices surpassed over $5.00 a gallon. During the time period as we approach Labor Day, many people find themselves in need of a new career and a new job. Many people want to start a new job right after Labor Day and the others are too stressed to push it off any longer and prefer to start working before the summer ends so that they are settled. A new career in tax preparation is timely right now, because now is when people start preparing not only for a new financial year that starts in September, but also they want to be ready for January 1, 2023.

Why A Career In Tax Preparation Is Timely Right Now

Tax season officially starts in January when people start preparing their own IRS federal and state tax returns. During this time, accountants and CPAs usually request statements and documents from clients. This is also the season and month when companies send out W2 forms and 1099s to their employees. The Fall is the time to pursue education, training, and position yourself in order to be ready for the upcoming tax season. Once January 1st comes around, you want to have your name and your tax business shingle hanging out for all to see. You also want to have your advertising and marketing in place because that is when everyone becomes aware that they need help with their taxes for the year. You have to have ample time to learn, practice and train to be prepared to start, and confident that you are ready to provide these important IRS tax preparation and financial services.

Who Should Consider A Career In Tax Preparation?

What makes a good candidate to enroll In tax preparation courses? Anyone that already has a knack for numbers should consider a career in tax prep. A person that enjoys making calculations and who is creative at figuring out strategies that save money, are great candidates. Detail oriented people who like to read the fine print and search around for bargains, calculating and comparing numbers and prices, utilizing spreadsheets with columns consisting of pros and cons are great prospects for a career in tax preparation. Highly organized individuals will immediately realize that they will be very successful in this type of career. The mindset of working with numbers, envisioning a better way to work with them and ultimately coming to a money-saving conclusion, creates the most successful candidate in tax preparation.

Who Is Eligible To Be A Tax Preparer?

To become a tax preparer, you do not have to be a college graduate. With a GED and/or a high school diploma, one who does well in math has the potential of succeeding in the field of tax preparation. One does not have to be a genius or an academic wiz to be successful, you just have to be prepared to concentrate and deal with intricate numbers and details. National Tax Training School teaches students from the ground up. With any background, path of education and average IQ, one is destined to thrive in this exciting field. One who is ultimately dedicated to learning tax preparation and gets the proper foundation training, will develop great experience in no time.

Why Is Experience The Best Education?

To become an artist, you have to have it in you. With tax preparation, you must initially be dedicated to learning. Then, after a short while of working in the field, with each client and each scenario of saving people money, one gains the most valuable experience.

What Are The Resources Needed To Start A Career In Tax Preparation?

People with limited resources can still start learning tax preparation today. You don’t have to invest a significant amount of money, and with a surprisingly minimal investment one may enroll in our course. Tax software is another investment preparers will need to purchase.

Students can access the online learning system from the comfort of their home, a cafe, coffee shop or anywhere at any time. With basic Internet, wifi access and a laptop or smartphone, students enrolled in the course will conveniently be able to complete their training and studies that will last them a lifetime.

When Should One Start Training To Become A Tax Preparation Professional?

One will need anywhere from a few weeks to a few months in order to be ready for Tax Season. National Tax Training School is constantly updating the tax preparer course, and in fact just finalized the most current version and released it to all recently enrolled students. These students will be getting the most up to date version of the course. That’s why, NOW is the optimal time to enroll. NTTS constantly strives to add timely updates to the curriculum as a result of Congressional changes to the tax laws. In fact, President Biden just passed a bill called the Inflation Reduction Act. Although it may not have a significant impact on basic United States taxation, it does indeed have tax ramifications. Now is the time to become familiar with all of the new and updated changes that are happening AND going to happen. Usually, these updates get implemented by Congress at this time of the year when Congress returns to office after summer vacation. Congress then focuses on these acts, tax provisions, and extensions of previous revisions.

How Long Does The National Tax Preparation Program Course Run?

The course is 150 hours of self paced study. The student is in the driver’s seat and sets the pace. If we break it down by two hours daily, it’s about 10 weeks worth of program. If a student starts today, by the end of the 2nd month or sometime in the 3rd month, they should comfortably be able to finish the course. With all this under consideration, finishing the program will likely take one 8 – 10 weeks. Some people give themselves even more time to feel confident so within 3 months they are ready to start taking on clientele.

How Can One Start Their Own Tax Preparation Business?

First, one will need time after finishing the National Tax Training School tax preparation course in order to absorb and review the material they have learned. Some professionals will want to find office space, sublet or work from home. It is also recommended to have enough time to advertise and to do some research on your local and regional market.In the beginning of the tax season, expect to be busy while also maintaining a business development strategy. You will not want to turn away any potential clients.

Building a Profitable Tax Practice

The Guide Book (https://nationaltax.edu/publications/building-a-profitable-tax-practice/) we give out to students helps them build their tax practice business. The National Tax Training School guide book, “Building a Profitable Tax Practice” is written by National Tax and it covers everything you need to know on how to successfully establish and maintain a tax preparation business.

Topics covered in the book include:

IRS requirements
Office technology
Successful marketing strategies
Staff hiring
Ethical responsibility
Billing and Fee structure
Collections
Handling IRS tax audits
Professional development
Mergers and acquisitions
Reporting

Is A Career In Tax Preparation Stable?

Every US citizen is required to file taxes, so a tax preparer offers essential services that everybody needs. When tax clients are satisfied, they will depend on the professional for their taxes year after year and even refer their friends and family. As one consistently provides tax preparation services, they build on existing and return client work experience as their client base grows. Expanding a business by establishing a professional network and concentrating on retention makes the business even more stable.

How Profitable Is A Career In Tax Preparation?

A tax preparer has unlimited potential to grow his or her income as much as they are willing. As mentioned above, everyone needs their taxes done. A tax preparer will always be able to provide services and they can work as much as they want and as little as they want. One can work part time and still be very busy during Tax Season.

Tax Preparer vs. Bookkeeper/ CPA/ Accountant?

A tax preparer 100% COMPLEMENTS being a bookkeeper, CPA and/or accountant. There is no conflict whatsoever and if anything, the professional and their clients benefit from their knowledge and experience greatly.

An accounting degree isn’t for everyone. Though there are plenty of benefits over tax preparation, getting an accounting degree requires much more time, effort and a significant investment.

Accounting also involves a wide range of financial services such as financial statements, business regulations, corporate structuring etc. whereas a tax preparer focuses on the tax aspect. Preparing tax returns, providing tax related advice and skillfully concentrating on finding tax savings is a major benefit of taking our tax prep course.

A significant percentage of CPAs certainly have knowledge of tax preparation, but they aren’t necessarily experts. They usually have staff and employees like students of ours, who do their tax prep work for them. A CPA is a general term for someone that went to college and received a degree in accounting. A CPA is a designation, and that means working on the overall finances of individuals, corporations and businesses.

Students who are not yet ready to start a business on their own, will often end up with great opportunities. Many CPAs and accounting firms are constantly seeking to hire individuals with tax preparation expertise to fulfill their client needs. This is quite common and especially true around tax season.

All in all, becoming a tax preparer is quite advantageous and beneficial since CPAs are not only looking for these professionals, but also are looking for partners.

Bookkeepers will find that having professional tax preparation knowledge will greatly add to their overall offerings and services. They naturally deal with many clients who ultimately need their taxes completed and filed. With the addition of a tax preparer on staff, bookkeepers are able to offer to their existing client base financial services as well as tax help.

Why Is Tax Preparation A Satisfying Career?

There’s nothing more satisfying and empowering than when you immediately show people how to save money. When you help US Citizens and show savings in their taxes, the money you save them is money in their pocket. All professionals desire their clients to be pleased. When one shows a client how to move around personal and corporate finances with security, they gain a satisfied customer.

Who Can Establish a Thriving Tax Practice?

Many ask if they need prior experience and skills in order to succeed in a career in tax preparation. Former mechanics, school teachers, salespeople, homemakers, and employees from different industries have all thrived in the field of tax preparation. So when one asks if this path is right for them, National Tax Training School replies ABSOLUTELY!

About National Tax Training School (NTTS)

The life of a military spouse may not be typical, especially for families that elect to move whenever and wherever the military member is reassigned. There are certainly perks, like being able to live in new cities, states, and even countries, meet a diverse range of people, and perhaps experience new cultures in the process.

However, this family togetherness could mean a non-military spouse has to give up on a career or professional aspirations. Not all jobs can travel, and if you’re a military spouse that moves around quite a bit, it’s possible that you’ll have to forego a traditional career as a result.

The good news is, there are professional avenues to explore when your spouse is an active military member, and careers in tax preparation are a viable and attractive option for a number of reasons. Here are just a few of the benefits you’ll gain when you take tax courses online, earn certification, and tackle a new profession.

Learn from Anywhere
Military life isn’t always predictable, and even if you plan to be in one place for a while, your spouse and your family may be called upon to move. This not only makes it difficult to hold down a job and build a career, but also to attend school.

Luckily, the internet has made it easier than ever to learn remotely. You will, of course, need to find a licensed and accredited tax school if you want to earn appropriate certification, but there are definitely viable options that allow you to learn from anywhere, so that sudden or frequent moves will not disrupt your education.

Work from Anywhere
As a certified tax preparer, you can work from anywhere. Not only are talented and knowledgeable tax prep specialists needed everywhere (even military bases located on foreign soil), but digital tax prep and filing allows you to continue servicing clientele in locations where you no longer live.

If you’re worried about building a business only to lose clients when you move, a career in tax preparation is an excellent solution. When the military relocates your spouse and you follow, you can take your clients with you, so to speak.

Gain Government Assistance
Many young men and women join the military as a pathway to higher education, with plans to utilize GI Bill benefits following completion of military service. As a military spouse, you can also take advantage of education benefits through the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program.

This career development and employment assistance program, sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD), is intended to help military spouses earn certifications, certificates, licenses, and/or certain associates degrees as a pathway to gainful employment. To this end, military spouses could be eligible for up to $4,000 in financial assistance over the course of two years. You should visit the Military Benefits website at https://militarybenefits.info/ to find out if you qualify and learn more about MyCAA assistance.

Improve Yourself
In any relationship, there are bound to be imbalances at times. As a military spouse, you may resign yourself to playing second fiddle on the professional front. This can be difficult for someone who takes pride in working and earning his/her own money.

When you pursue a career in tax preparation, you have the ability to improve yourself, become a productive member of society and adopt a career path that is compatible with your spouse’s military obligations. This continuity can help you to adjust to frequent moves and provide personal fulfillment, not to mention additional household income.

Plus, it’s a career that you can continue after your spouse leaves the military and your family settles in one place. In other words, military spouses have only to gain by becoming tax prep specialists.

Love them or hate them, taxes are essential to our way of life. Don’t believe me? Let me know how you feel about taxes next time you need to use a public service. Regardless of how you feel about taxes themselves, there’s one thing we can probably all agree on: filing tax returns takes a special kind of person. One must be alert, knowledgeable, and able to spot mistakes; additionally, the need to have a high tolerance for paperwork. If this doesn’t sound like you, there’s no need to worry. This is precisely why people hire tax consultants. However, if it does sound like you then it may be time to consider a career in tax consulting. To help you decide, here’s a list of important personality traits of successful tax consultants.

1. Knack For Solving Problems

If you are a natural problem solver who enjoys challenges like games, puzzles, and word problems, you may find yourself right at home as a tax preparer. This position will involve solving an array of problems for your clients, and thinking critically on your feet is absolutely necessary.

2. Be Personable

Part of the job is convincing strangers to trust you with their most intimate secret: their finances. To be successful at this, you need to be as personable and accommodating as you can. To do so, I recommend two things: a thick skin and a sense of humor. The former will help you ignore the noise and keep your eye on the prize; while the latter will help you deflect any negativity or resistance and potentially net yourself a new client. Nothing will build a longer, more lasting business relationship than forming a genuine connection with a person. Once you show them that they can trust you, they will.

In addition to being personable, you will need to make decisions that are in the best interest of your client. This requires getting to know them from a strategic perspective. What kind of business are they running? What are their goals? What accounting tricks are most suitable to their needs? You should make answering these questions a priority with each client you work with.

3. Cultivated Communication Skills

In addition to founding your business relationships on trust, you also need to focus on communicating effectively in a clear, concise, and relevant manner. The more effectively you communicate, the more comfortable your client will feel.

4. Maintain Confidence

Hey, no one said this job would be a walk in the park. Some of the most difficult situations you will ever encounter could confront you out of the blue on this job, and when they do, it is up to you to maintain confidence and work through it like the brilliant success machine that you are. Doing so will make you more credible in the eyes of your client, which is great for retaining their business, bringing in new clients via positive word of mouth, and contributing to your own personal development.

5. Motivation

Like credibility and confidence, the ability to stay motivated when the going gets tough will benefit both you and your client. This means that you have to keep yourself focused and stay on task, especially if you work remotely, as the tendency to procrastinate is why many aspiring tax consultants lose potential clients.

6. Attention To Detail

The ability to be consistently accurate with an eye for detail is essential to the daily repertoire of a successful tax consultant. Can you imagine what would happen if you crunched a bunch of numbers for a client, only to find out that they were inaccurate? What would this do to your credibility? To avoid an embarrassing scenario similar to this one, cultivate your attention to detail until you naturally strive for consistency while maintaining an open curiosity and desire to solve problems as they present themselves.

7. Creativity

This trait may come as a surprise, but creativity is indeed an essential trait of many successful tax professionals. Ideally, you would employ creative strategies when attempting to solve various problems for clients. Keep in mind that few problems in the real world will be as cut and dry as they are theoretically. If you are more analytically-minded, one way to encourage creativity is by keeping your surroundings neat and tidy, as this will help you to think more abstractly about whatever problem you are tackling.

8. Assertiveness

Although it is important to be accommodating to your client’s needs, it is also important to know when you need to put your foot down. This pertains to any time you are owed money for an unreasonable amount of time, or if you are defending your honor against a baseless accusation. In either case, it is important to stand by your principals and let your client know exactly why they are wrong, even if this means that they seek out a new tax consultant.

9. Honesty

This one seems kind of obvious, but it is by far one of the most important qualities as it connects to nearly every other trait on this list. As a tax consultant, when you have insight into how your clients manage their money, honesty and integrity are of the utmost importance. This is some of the most personal information in your client’s entire life. Believe me, speaking the truth is much easier than getting tangled in a web of lies, and in this line of work, integrity goes a long way.

10. Accountability

As a tax consultant, accountability is important in terms of maintaining both client confidence and business accuracy. Additionally, it is important for your sanity to remember that human error is natural and not everything can be perfect. Being a successful tax consultant is about striking a balance between accuracy, precision, and honesty. This means it’s all right to admit when you have made a mistake, as long as you own up to it and work to assure that it does not happen again in the future.

The Tax Preparer Industry

There are several potential benefits to pursuing a career as a tax preparer, not the least of which is the ability to successfully prepare and file your own taxes. You’ll also have options for flexible scheduling, work-at-home opportunities, seasonal or yearly work, and livable wages.

The added bonus of choosing this profession is that knowledgeable and skilled tax preparers are in high demand. Whether you work with a firm or strike out on your own, you should never fall short of having as much work as you want.

Naturally, you’re bound to be busier at certain times of year (tax season), but with businesses requiring bookkeeping, quarterly estimated tax filings, and other services throughout the year, tax preparers that want to work year-round can certainly do so. Even better, it’s not a perishable skill, and you can take it with you should you move to another location.

The question, then, is how to get started. How can you become a tax preparer and what type of career trajectory awaits you? Here are a few things you should know if you want to get into the tax preparer industry.

Requirements

Although there are no specific post-secondary educational requirements for tax preparers, you should certainly get your high school diploma or GED, and your math abilities should be at least adequate. From there you can look into programs designed to teach you what you need to know to become a certified tax preparer.

This education will allow you to meet certain standards that make getting a job or starting your own business a lot easier. Some firms do not require you to have a certificate or license upon hire, although they will almost certainly train you and most require you to work toward certification. In order to prepare federal taxes, the IRS requires that you hold a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).

Choosing the Right Program

The main thing to remember when it comes to your education is that it is essential to find a tax school that is licensed and accredited. The good news for many prospective students is that National Tax Training School which is licensed and nationally accredited provides the opportunity to earn online certification in as little as 8-10 weeks.

Finding an Employer

As a certified tax preparer, you will have the opportunity to work for any number of businesses that specialize in filing taxes for individuals or business entities, or that offer the service as one of a number of different customer services. You could end up working for a tax prep company, an accounting firm or independent CPA, or even a law firm.

Some of these jobs are likely to be seasonal or provide only part-time work, while others may offer you the opportunity to work year-round, depending on the clientele and your level of ability (as well as your desire to work). The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that jobs for tax preparers and accountants are on the rise, and this is likely due to the complex and fluid nature of tax law. In other words, you should have little trouble finding employment opportunities as a certified tax preparer.

Working for Yourself

Many people are interested in the prospect of entering the tax prep industry as a means of attaining a flexible employment schedule and/or working from home. Becoming a tax preparer offers many opportunities that aren’t available in other fields, especially in finance.

As a certified tax preparation specialist, you can certainly choose to work for yourself, work from home, and build up your own clientele. You can decide how much or how little you want to work. This is an ideal situation for stay-home parents looking to bring in a secondary income, students seeking a side job while they’re in school, workers who want to supplement another income, or anyone who wants to be their own boss, really.

Becoming a tax preparer allows you the freedom to make decisions about where you work and how much you work. Of course, if you’re going to work from home you must exhibit a certain level of determination, as well as an ability to effectively manage your time, if you want to earn a living.

Tax Prep as a Supplemental Income

Not everyone interested in a career in tax preparation is looking for full-time work, and there are definitely ways to create a part-time schedule. If, for example, you’re interested in seasonal work, the months of January through April might demand a lot of work hours, but provide the supplemental income that sustains you throughout the rest of the year.

You could also find ways to work part-time by taking on just a few clients that provide you with ongoing work. Either way, you can easily earn the supplemental income you prefer.

Further Career Aspirations

Some people are so happy with the pay and flexibility offered by a professional career as a tax preparer that it becomes their long-term career. However, tax preparation can also be an excellent stepping stone to other careers in finance.

Not only does an understanding of taxation and the tax ramifications of financial and business decisions make you invaluable to any company that might hire you for other purposes, but the knowledge and skills you develop as a tax preparer can also segue nicely into a variety of professions, whether you go on to become a CPA, financial planner, estate planner, or other professional. Even an MBA grad with a background in tax preparation is more valuable than the average job candidate.

Becoming a tax preparer does nothing less than open doors, now and in the future. You may plan to become a tax preparer as a way to supplement another job or earn a secondary income for your household while raising a family, but if you decide to do more later on, you’ll already have a strong foundation in place on which to base other career aspirations.