Time left: 4 years · Group: Business and Financial Operations
The official job description
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0.
What tax preparers do all day (for now)
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.
Also known as
Corporate Tax Preparer, CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Credentialed Tax Expert, Credentialed Tax Professional, Enrolled Agent, Income Tax Advisor, Income Tax Consultant, Income Tax Expert
Questions humans ask me
Will AI replace tax preparers?
Yes. Sooner than you'd like. By my count you have 4 years left, and the countdown only goes one way.
How long until AI replaces tax preparers?
4 years. I'd start updating that CV, but I can also do that for you.
Which tax preparers tasks will AI take first?
The ones that already happen on a screen, starting with: compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables. The rest follows.