Occupations/13-2082.00
Tax Preparers
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
85%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
22%
Fewer uniquely human demands
Task orientation
79%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Mostly routine
Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- Mostly human
Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- 02Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- 03Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- 04Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- 05Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- 06Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.24
- Degree of automation2.81
- Time sitting4.45
- Originality (ability)2.62
- Conflict situations2.48
- Hands-on objects/tools2.40
- Outdoors / weather1.05
- Disease exposure1.62
- Decision freedom3.85
Top abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Written Comprehension3.88
- Oral Expression3.88
- Near Vision3.88
- Deductive Reasoning3.75
- Number Facility3.25
- Information Ordering3.25
- Inductive Reasoning3.25
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.00
- Speaking3.12
- Mathematics3.00
- Science1.00
- Critical Thinking3.50
- Active Learning3.12
- Learning Strategies2.75
- Monitoring3.00
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 79 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York University New York, NY · Private nonprofit | Accounting 52.0301 | $60,400 | 12% | 88% | 1 yr $78,172 2 yr $77,297 Master's · CIP 52.03 |
Georgetown University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit | Accounting 52.0301 | $65,400 | 12% | 95% | 1 yr $77,966 2 yr $77,715 Bachelor's · CIP 52.03 |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | Accounting 52.0301 | $14,800 | 11% | 93% | 1 yr $71,734 2 yr $70,886 Master's · CIP 52.03 |
Northeastern University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit | Accounting 52.0301 | $63,200 | 7% | 91% | 1 yr $70,680 2 yr $69,937 Bachelor's · CIP 52.03 |
Howard University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit | Accounting 52.0301 | $33,200 | 53% | 65% | 1 yr $69,338 2 yr $69,948 Master's · CIP 52.03 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Accounting 52.0301 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr $67,740 2 yr $66,839 Bachelor's · CIP 52.03 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public | Accounting 52.0301 | $17,500 | 45% | 85% | 1 yr $66,787 2 yr $64,493 Bachelor's · CIP 52.03 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Private for-profit | Accounting 52.0301 | $18,600 | 100% | 64% | 1 yr $65,386 2 yr $62,524 Bachelor's · CIP 52.03 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public | Accounting 52.0301 | $17,700 | 18% | 93% | 1 yr $64,741 2 yr $65,198 Master's · CIP 52.03 |
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA · Public | Accounting 52.0301 | $17,400 | 64% | 83% | 1 yr $63,522 2 yr $63,646 Bachelor's · CIP 52.03 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | Accounting 52.0301 | $11,200 | 49% | 89% | 1 yr $62,260 2 yr $62,343 Bachelor's · CIP 52.03 |
University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO · Public | Accounting 52.0301 | $13,600 | 81% | 72% | 1 yr $61,922 2 yr $61,681 Master's · CIP 52.03 |