Tax Season Means Plenty of Seasonal Jobs. Here’s How to Snag One
It’s the start of a new year and that means the tax filing deadline will be on us before we know it.
The U.S. tax code is a mystery to me, so I’m in awe of people who not only understand it but also can help others wade through the filing process.
If you’ve got tax preparation skills, you may be able to put them to use over the next few months as a seasonal worker at a tax preparation service.
Where to Get Tax Preparer Training
You need more than good math skills to be marketable as a tax preparer. You also need some basic tax prep training.
Some tax services offer online and in-person tax preparation courses, including:
You can also take classes at your local community college or on an online learning platform like Udemy.
Where to Look for Seasonal Tax Preparer Jobs
Once you’ve got tax preparer training under your belt, keep an eye out for seasonal job openings at nationwide tax prep services like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt.
Don’t forget to also check job listings at local and regional tax preparation firms in your area.
Of course, the Internal Revenue Service also employs seasonal workers during tax season. Jobs include:
- Tax Examining Technician
- Data Transcriber
- Clerk
If you’d like to give back to your community and do some volunteer work, the IRS provides free training for people who want to help low-to-moderate-income families prepare their taxes.
How Much You’ll Make
How much you’ll make as a seasonal tax preparer depends on where you work.
H&R Block pays an average of $9 per hour plus commission, and jobs at the IRS start at $11.57 an hour. In 2016, Jackson Hewitt told us the starting pay for its seasonal customer service associates is $11 per hour.
If tax prep isn’t your cup of tea, or if you just want to learn about working as a tax preparer without committing to a training course, some tax preparation services hire seasonal customer service workers to solve technical issues and answer customer questions.
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves telling readers about new job opportunities so look her up on Twitter (@lisah) if you’ve got a tip to share.
