Can anyone recommend an intensive training course (online or offline) that will cover the ins and outs of tax preparation??

Edwards Finance > Loans

Q. Can anyone recommend an intensive training course (online or offline) that will cover the ins and outs of tax preparation?? Hoping to start my own tax advisory service and I'm only interested in material that teaches me the practicalities and nuances of filing returns - as opposed to high level explanations of tax law and theory. I live in NY so anything relevant to local state taxes is also a plus.

A. H&R Block offers a very good. comprehensive "basic tax" course. It runs 66 class hours over about 11 weeks in most places. Usually meeting 3 hrs at a shot 2 times a week (or in some cases 1 all day session a week). You will have lots of homework and lots of studying (plan for at least as much out of class time studying as in class time). There are graded quizzes every week, 4 graded homework assignments spaced throughout and a comprehensive final exam. Most classes will include time for state and local returns as well. My next recommendation would be to work for either Block (you have to make an overall 80% and at least 80% on the final to qualify) or some other tax service for a year or two to get some experience in both dealing with clients and with research, handling problems, and fixing "IRS rejects". This will be invaluable. I would not suggest going to work for a company where all you are is a data entry clerk and do no actual tax theory work, this does not give you the experience you are looking for to open your own business. Just FYI, I have worked for Block for 10 years and have been an instructor of both the basic and upper level classes for their continuing education classes (Block employees are required to do 30 hrs a year between seasons) for the past 4 years. I am a little partial to Block, but I know some people have had bad experiences with working for them. I guess it depends on where you are and who you work with and I've been lucky. But I have checked out the competition, so to speak, and nobody I've seen so far beats the straight tax knowledge education you can get from Block both for the basic and upper level classes. Drop me a line if you have any questions or need help getting set up with a class.

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