What does a Tax Assistant do?
The tax assistant is responsible for supporting an organization's tax or accounting department. Their job is a combination of accounting support and administrative assistance. They should be able to run an office, as well as perform higher-level tasks, such as processing tax returns and sustaining databases. A tax assistant works under the direction of a tax manager or executive, but most of their duties are performed with less supervision. Tax assistants should also be dynamic and can comfortably work alone.
Tax assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real tax assistant resumes:
- Perform bank and account reconciliations and process monthly payroll using QuickBooks.
- Offer orientation to CPA s and college students to complete their continue education credits and increase potential candidates.
- Perform data entry of banking and expense information into QuickBooks and other accounting software reconciling the accounts at month end.
- Assure filling completion per client folder by gathering clients and CPA approval signature, tax form printouts and documentation backup scans.
- General QuickBooks information and data entry.
- Complete IRS tax-preparation training and prepare and electronically file income taxes for individuals.
- Advise low-income and elderly taxpayers on taxation status, compliance and refunds eligibility.
- Provide a welcoming and knowledgeable service and recognize as outstanding public service contributor by IRS
- Assist clients with accounting affairs such as individual and corporation taxation and payroll preparation.
- Provide knowledgeable support for tax consultants and professionals in taxation, verifying accuracy and maintaining attention to detail.
- Prepare individual tax returns in a timely manner-assist with account reconciliations for clients-help track basis for clients-update clients fix asset accounts
- Prepare work papers to support book (GAAP) to tax differences and reconcile the book-tax differences.
- Prepare individual federal and state tax returns in a paperless environment via CCH ProSystem/PROFX.
- Prepare tax returns for high net worth individuals, partnerships and foundations using GoSystems and CCH.
- Proofread returns for mistakes and make necessary corrections.
Tax assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Tax Assistants are proficient in Individual Tax Returns, Low-Income Families, and Income Tax Returns.
We break down the percentage of Tax Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Individual Tax Returns, 27%
Certified in Advanced Tax Preparation of individual tax returns that contain complex transactions above an intermediate level.
- Low-Income Families, 25%
Helped low-income families in Fullerton and international students with their tax returns
- Income Tax Returns, 11%
Prepared personal income tax returns for low-income individuals and participated in community service activities including personal budget seminars and financial literacy program
- IRS, 5%
Provided a welcoming and knowledgeable service and recognized as outstanding public service contributor by IRS
- PowerPoint, 4%
Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and QuickBooks.
- Financial Statements, 4%
Collected and organized supporting documentation for internal audits, preparing financial statements, and personal income tax reporting.
Most tax assistants use their skills in "individual tax returns," "low-income families," and "income tax returns" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential tax assistant responsibilities here:
The three companies that hire the most tax assistants are:
- Andersen10 tax assistants jobs
- Moss Adams7 tax assistants jobs
- Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP5 tax assistants jobs
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Compare different tax assistants
Tax assistant vs. Corporate tax preparer
A tax preparer is responsible for preparing and processing the tax obligations of an organization. Tax preparers' duties include calculating tax returns, reviewing financial statements and make adjustments as needed, analyzing deductible expenses and credits, and adhering to the tax regulations and legislation procedures at all times. A tax preparer must have excellent knowledge of the tax processes and timely updated with the recent changes and updates within the financial industry. Tax preparers should have impeccable analytical and critical thinking skills to manage account statements for business and individual clients.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between tax assistants and corporate tax preparer. For instance, tax assistant responsibilities require skills such as "low-income families," "income tax returns," "powerpoint," and "low-income clients." Whereas a corporate tax preparer is skilled in "tax research," "payroll," "audit projects," and "tax provision." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, corporate tax preparers reach lower levels of education than tax assistants. Corporate tax preparers are 9.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Tax assistant vs. Tax collection coordinator
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that tax assistant responsibilities requires skills like "individual tax returns," "low-income families," "income tax returns," and "low-income clients." But a tax collection coordinator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "income tax," "sales tax," "tax audits," and "data entry."
In general, tax collection coordinators achieve lower levels of education than tax assistants. They're 7.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tax assistant vs. Income tax expert
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from tax assistant resumes include skills like "individual tax returns," "low-income families," "powerpoint," and "low-income clients," whereas an income tax expert is more likely to list skills in "turbo," "customer service," "reconciliations," and "client relationships. "
When it comes to education, income tax experts tend to earn similar degree levels compared to tax assistants. In fact, they're 2.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Tax assistant vs. Tax preparer
Types of tax assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
