Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses but do not have the background or responsibilities of an accredited or certified public accountant.

Other names for Tax Preparers: Accountant, Bookkeeper, Certified Income Tax Preparer (CTP), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Corporate Tax Preparer, Income Tax Advisor, Income Tax Consultant, Income Tax Expert, Income Tax Preparer, Paraprofessional, Tax Accountant, Tax Advisor, Tax Associate, Tax Consultant, Tax Evaluator, Tax Manager, Tax Preparer, Tax Specialist,

• 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 in order to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
• Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice in order to ensure correct tax form completion.
• Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins in order 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.

• Adding machines
• Desktop computers
• Notebook computers

Human resources software

Project management software

Office suite software

Accounting software

Tax preparation software

Financial analysis software

Word processing software

Web page creation and editing software

Calendar and scheduling software

Spreadsheet software

Data base user interface and query software

Internet browser software

Electronic mail software