Why Become a Tax Preparer?
Many students enter adulthood without the slightest clue of what they want to do with their professional lives. Some harbor dreams of grandeur while others prefer fortune to fame. However, a more practical approach to planning one’s career can ensure much greater job satisfaction.
When choosing a career path, you need to consider two things: what you’re good at and what you enjoy. The so-called “dream job” is a myth, or at least, it’s different for every person. We might all enjoy the accolades and earnings of a top-notch actor, but how many of us are really suited to perform on command? Some might find such work extremely stressful and terribly unfulfilling.
If you’re looking for a profession that features stability, flexibility, and high earning potential, there are several reasons to consider becoming a tax preparer, especially if you’re proficient in math, you exhibit organization and attention to detail, and you enjoy working with clients and helping them save money. Here are some of the many benefits you stand to gain in the process.
1 – Gainful Employment
Money may or may not make the world go ’round, but it certainly can keep us comfortable, ensuring a roof over our heads and food on the table. Tax preparation can provide you with gainful employment for the rest of your life.
People are always going to need help with their taxes. Most of us simply don’t have the time, energy, or inclination to learn how to prepare our own income tax returns, especially since tax codes change frequently.
For this reason, reputable and reliable tax preparers are always in high demand. Naturally, you’re bound to be much busier at certain times of year, as when annual income tax returns are due in April, but you can also find ways to sustain your workload throughout the year by working for businesses, keeping books and filing quarterly estimated taxes, for example.
2 – Job Security
If the recent recession taught us nothing else, we learned the value of a stable profession. Not every job can offer security, but tax preparation is something nearly everyone needs help with at some point, which means tax prep professionals will always be in high demand.
Taxes are confusing, and most people have better things to do with their time than learn the ins and outs. They’re happy to leave it to professionals like you, especially since you have the knowledge to help them find ways to reduce what they owe and even get money back in some cases.
3 – Flexible Work Options
This is one major boon associated with becoming a tax preparer. You have so many options when it comes to your schedule. For example, you could end up working full time for a tax prep company, or alternately, simply working for yourself from home.
You could take on clients just during the busiest tax season, or maintain business contracts year-round, and you have the option to decide how many clients you want to serve. You could work full-time, part-time, seasonally, or to supplement another profession.
Tax preparers often enjoy the ability to manage their own schedules. Whether you prefer working days, evenings, or weekends, you can set appointments with clients on a schedule that works for you, allowing you to accommodate other work, schooling, or familial obligations, just for example. How many other high-paying jobs can you say that about?
4 – You Can Learn Remotely
Earning your certificate in tax preparation is as easy as taking online tax courses through a licensed and accredited tax school that offers clear and comprehensive course work, as well as skilled instructors and support staff. This is an ideal learning environment that gives you a measure of control over your learning schedule and allows you to avoid a costly and time consuming commute.
If you’re already tied to another job, you’re raising a family, or you’re simply looking for a convenient and flexible educational opportunity, the option to study and earn your certificate in tax preparation from home or on the go is a fairly attractive proposition.
5 – Earn a Certificate Quickly and Get to Work
When you take online tax preparer courses, you could earn your certificate in as little as 8-10 weeks, depending on how committed you are to the process. This means you could get to work and begin earning a living and building your professional reputation in just a couple of months.
You don’t need any previous experience to begin online tax courses, although many people working as bookkeepers, accountants, and lawyers are keen to earn tax prep certification. All you have to do is sign up, complete your coursework, and earn your certificate in a few short weeks.
6 – Lifelong Knowledge and Skills
You might find that you really enjoy tax preparation and make it your lifelong profession. Or you might see it as a stepping stone in your career trajectory. You may do it for a while and move on to other pursuits.
However, the knowledge and skills you develop will stick with you for the rest of your life. You might only use them when properly preparing your own tax filings or helping out family members and friends, or they may serve you well in all of your professional pursuits.
Many businesses see this type of knowledge and experience as a major bonus and it could give you the edge when applying for future positions, even those unrelated to tax preparation. Basic accounting and tax preparation skills are something everyone should have, but few people bother to learn, which will make you a valuable asset to any employer.
7 – Personal Fulfillment
Most adults place a premium on earnings over job satisfaction. What you’ll come to realize with time is that money isn’t everything. If you spend enough time working you’ll find that gaining a sense of satisfaction from your job is worth its weight in gold, so to speak.
When you make all the numbers match up or find a way to help clients save money or see a larger tax refund, you’re going to gain a sense of personal fulfillment that you might not get from other jobs. This is a welcome addition to whatever money you earn in the course of your professional pursuits.
