Tax Preparers
SOC Code: 13-2082 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Tax Preparers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $52,083 | $68,286 | $84,490 | $100,693 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,320 | $63,752 | $80,205 | $96,637 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,592 | $63,003 | $79,414 | $95,826 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,824 | $61,277 | $77,730 | $94,182 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $43,368 | $59,509 | $75,650 | $91,790 |
| Great Falls, MT | $40,019 | $57,200 | $74,381 | $91,562 |
| Bozeman, MT | $46,592 | $61,381 | $76,170 | $90,958 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $40,498 | $57,158 | $73,798 | $90,459 |
| Kingston, NY | $43,846 | $59,134 | $74,402 | $89,690 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $43,056 | $58,490 | $73,902 | $89,336 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Time Management | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Economics and Accounting | 3.9 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.7 |
| Mathematics | 3.6 |
| Law and Government | 3.6 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.5 |
| Administrative | 3.2 |
| Education and Training | 2.6 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 38.1% |
| Some college | 23.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 23.8% |
| Associate's degree | 14.3% |
Typical Tasks
- Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns.
- Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Intuit QuickBooks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word ACI TaskTracker ATX Total Accounting Office ATX Total Tax Office CCH ProSystem fx TAX Creative Solutions CPA Depreciation Creative Solutions UltraTax CS Datagroup ElectroFile 1040 Datagroup ElectroFile ELF Datagroup ElectroFile ST
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