Description
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- • Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- • Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- • Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- • Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- • Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- • Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- • Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns.
- • Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.
- • Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
- • Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
- • Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
- • Schedule appointments with clients.
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Financial Services
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
