Discussion:New Student to Tax Preparation
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Tcarter200845 (talk|edits) said: | 28 September 2008 |
| Bold textH' Everybody,
I am a new student to Tax Preparation and hopefully will be hired by the company that I signed up with. I am very excited about this and will study hard. Although I am alittle worried about the math aspect of preparing taxes and accounting. Math was one of my weakest subject in school. I hope this doesn't cause a problem for me. I hope that it isn't to difficult in that area. But I quess with calculators and computers I shouldn't have a problem. Please advise me on this subject, I am very curious. My class starts on 9/30 and I will be there with bells on. tcarter200845 | |
Tcarter200845 (talk|edits) said: | 28 September 2008 |
| Could anyone provide me with some good tax study websites? | |
Tcarter200845 (talk|edits) said: | 28 September 2008 |
| 'Are there any Tax preparation math study websites?' | |
| 28 September 2008 | |
| I don't know of any websites, but reading Pub. 17 should help prepare you for your classes.
Here's a link... http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf | |
| 28 September 2008 | |
| Tcarter,
Chill out. You only posted this 13 hours ago as I write this note. It's a Sunday morning and the only reason I am on here is am waiting for someone, then I am headed off for my parish picnic. Math is the least of your worries. It wasn't my strongest subject in school, either. I would first get into your class and see what it is like before you hit the panic button. Then come back here and tell us your observations. But here are some thoughts I will share. If anyone else has an opinion, I am sure they will share it. What you need to focus on are the laws, the rules, the regs and the procedures that will help you get to the correct solution for your potential clients. You need to learn how to research, that's very important. Don't worry about spewing out the tax brackets for married filing joint in 2008 off the top of your head to impress people. It doesn't mean you are smart. It just means you can memorize stuff. After you finish and pass the class, your best bet is going to be a good adviser to your clients. That is worth more than being able to grab a calculator and whiz through a bunch of numbers quickly. Being able to assist a client with legally reducing their liability in the future is worth more money to them than how great your math skills are in the end. What that entails is the ability to do research. Also, keep up with the law changes. That's extremely important. I assume that whatever company you work for will be using software so I will admonish you to heed the words of Kevinh5, one of our frequent and excellent contributors here on TaxAlmanc: TAX SOFTWARE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOOD TAX PROFESSIONAL Best of luck to you. Tom | |
| 2 April 2009 | |
| Tom,
New to tax preparation as well. Your words are re-assuring as I love research and believe that finding the right answer is like panning for gold - you have to filter through the silt to find the nuggets. I read Kevinh5's words of wisdom regarding continuing education - I hope to take the EA exam sometime this summer. Thanks! Terri | |
