How to Make Money Helping People With Taxes as a Tax Preparer

Taxes normally mean losing money but, for a tax preparer, they mean making money. It’s surprisingly simple to become a qualified tax preparer. You can study how to do it at independent courses or you can take one of the courses offered by the big tax preparation firms.

These firms can also be venues for you to make money and start building a client base in your city. Like any other business, if you want to make money working on other people’s tax returns, you’ll have to offer them high-quality service and accurate returns.

When you’re preparing taxes, you generally make your money based on each return you complete rather than on an hourly basis. This means that you have to finish a certain amount of tax returns every week to make enough money to get by. In the off season—meaning the rest of the year following April 15—you can still make money by doing taxes for self-employed individuals and others who have ongoing payments to the IRS.

You’ll make more money as you build up clients, but this can take time. It may be more feasible to start out working for a company where you can get some experience and meet clients. You’ll have to spend money on advertising during the tax season and, of course, expect to make some money as the deadline for paying taxes draws nearer!

Before you spend a dime, make sure any classes you take offer certifications that are recognized in your state.