Seasonal tax preparer jobs: a simple timeline

Want a few months of real paid work, maybe from home? A seasonal tax preparer job could fit. You help people file their taxes during the busy months. The training can be free. But timing is everything. Miss the hiring window, and you may wait a whole year. Here's a simple timeline.

August to October: train

This is the time to learn. You have two good free choices:

• Intuit Academy Tax Level 1. It's free, you go at your own pace, and it's for U.S. learners. You'll also need Intuit's Tax Preparation badge to apply for its entry-level TurboTax Live job.
• H&R Block's Income Tax Course. It has no tuition, though you may have to buy materials. It runs from August to December.

A badge or course is not a job offer. It's what gets you ready to apply.

Early November: apply

Most tax companies hire in the fall, before the season starts in January. Intuit's blog gives early November as its hiring deadline. Dates can change each year, so check each company's site as soon as you start training.

Before your first return: get your PTIN

If you prepare federal returns for pay, you need a PTIN. That's your IRS preparer number. It costs $18.75 a year. Applying online takes about 15 minutes. You'll renew it every year.

Some states want more. Check yours before you rely on a free course:

• California: state registration, a 60-hour course and a $5,000 bond.
• Oregon: a state license, with 80 hours of approved classes and an exam.
• Maryland: an exam and state registration.

January to April: work

This is the season. You'll ask people about their income, family and costs. You'll enter the details and find credits they qualify for. Then you explain what you found. A lot of the job is patient talking with people who feel nervous about taxes.

The work peaks around March and April. Expect long days then. Intuit's seasonal job is remote, 20 to 40 hours a week. Shifts are at least 4 hours long, between 5 AM and 9 PM Pacific time.

May: plan what's next

After April, most of these jobs end. So plan for May before it gets here. Some people use the season for extra cash. Others use it as a way back into work.

If you love it, you can keep going. The IRS has an Annual Filing Season Program. There's also the Enrolled Agent exam. Both can lead to year-round tax work.

What does it pay?

We couldn't find an official number for seasonal tax jobs. They usually pay by the hour or by the return. Some outside guides give hourly ranges, but we couldn't confirm them. So ask for the rate before you commit.

For year-round tax preparers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives a median of $54,920 a year.

Want practice? Volunteer

The IRS runs a program called VITA. It trains volunteers to do taxes for people who need help. The training materials are free, and the test is open book. You get real practice, and you help your neighbors too.

One red flag to avoid

Some offices are run by "ghost" preparers. They won't sign the returns they file. Paid preparers must sign and add their PTIN. Stay away from any office that sets its fee by the size of the refund. Also avoid any office that sends refunds to its own account. That kind of office can get you in trouble too.

Ready to start? Our seasonal tax specialist guide has every step and link. Like the numbers side? See if bookkeeping fits you too. Or take the career quiz.

Where these facts come from

We checked these sources when we wrote this post. Rules and fees change, so check them before you pay for anything.

• Intuit: how to apply to the entry-level tax role (opens in a new tab)
• IRS: PTIN requirements (opens in a new tab)
• IRS: VITA training (opens in a new tab)
• IRS: ghost tax return preparers (opens in a new tab)
• California (CTEC) (opens in a new tab)
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: occupations not covered in detail (opens in a new tab)