{"id":16372,"date":"2024-08-12T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/?p=16372"},"modified":"2024-10-08T17:41:25","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T22:41:25","slug":"become-tax-preparer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/around-block\/become-tax-preparer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to become a tax preparer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Maybe you\u2019ve done your own taxes and really enjoyed it. Or maybe you\u2019ve experienced the help of a pro at a tax preparation service and thought, \u201cI want to do this, too!\u201d  Whatever it is that\u2019s sparked your interest, at Block, we\u2019re all for people wanting to learn how to become a tax preparer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becoming a professional tax preparer can be a great way to combine a knack for numbers and a heart for making an impact in people\u2019s financial lives. As a tax preparer, you can help people with their unique tax situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not sure where to begin? We\u2019ll walk you through what a tax preparer does and a few common paths to learning income tax return preparation, as there\u2019s no one tax preparer course for U.S. income taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Note! There is an H&R Block income tax course offered each year. We\u2019ll tell you more about our tax preparation course as you read along. Plus, learn how you could become a tax professional at H&R Block<\/a> and make a positive impact on the financial lives of those in your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore information about our Income Tax Course and Tax Pro hiring. <\/h3>
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Income Tax Course<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Tax Pro Hiring<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What does a tax preparer do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the day to day, most tax preparers help people complete their business or individual income tax forms for their state and federal income tax returns<\/a> and help file them with the state revenue offices and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the type of certification, some tax preparers can also represent their clients in front of the IRS in tax court if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tax preparer certification and course options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re exploring how to become a tax preparer, you should know all tax preparers must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN)<\/a>, which requires a suitability check along with a registration fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But before registering for a PTIN, you\u2019ll want to build your tax knowledge. There are many types of tax preparer certifications and licenses, but the requirements and select qualifications are different for each. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a couple of the most common:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n