Tax preparation companies hire seasonal workers every year to help prepare client income tax returns. A seasonal tax preparation job can be a great way to earn extra money during income tax season and can sometimes lead to more permanent opportunities.
As with many seasonal jobs, a seasonal position for a tax preparation company can provide a flexible working schedule. Full and part time, working days, evenings and weekends may be a perfect fit for a working parent or as a second job. Tax positions generally run from January to April.
There are various types of jobs available with certain degrees of experience. Tax preparer jobs require you to help clients organize and prepare their tax returns and respond to the client's questions. Additional jobs that involve helping clients with taxes and general financial planning include audit associates, personal financial services associates, tax examiners, and tax advisors.
A person doesn't necessarily need a financial background for some of these opportunities. Additional help is also needed during the tax season as a receptionist, transcriber, data entry clerk or even general administrative duties which do not require prior tax experience. Clients need to be greeted, phones answered, forms entered into a database and documents reviewed during this peak period of business.
Pay will vary depending on the seasonal role you're filling. Depending on the company, location and prior experience, a seasonal tax preparer can earn between $9 and $25 per hour. While this may not seem high, consider that a part-time preparer would earn $3000 to $9,000 for just 3 months of working. Extra money in the pocket is always a good thing. Other positions can range from between $7 and $15 per hour for administrative openings.
The seasonal opportunities can be found on most job board sites such as ZipRecruiter or directly through a company's career page on their company website. Many companies begin advertising in the Fall. For small tax businesses, stop by in person and inquire about open seasonal positions. Be sure to leave a copy of your resume even if they're not currently hiring.
