Jobs / Finance and accounting / 13-2082.00
Tax Preparers
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- US jobs
- 76,480
- Median wage
- $54,920 a year
- Job family
- Finance and accounting
Can agents do the work of tax preparers?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Finance and accounting: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: SpreadsheetBench 2, 54.5% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: APEX-Accounting, 14.8% of tasks fully completed (Pass@1).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 34%Calculate financial dataNot measured
- 9%Interview people to obtain informationNot measured
- 9%Advise others on financial mattersNot measured
- 9%Examine financial activities, operations, or systemsNot measured
- 8%Explain regulations, policies, or proceduresNot measured
- 8%Maintain current knowledge in area of expertiseNot measured
- 8%Evaluate the quality or accuracy of dataNot measured
- 7%Schedule appointmentsNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in finance and accounting, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 54.5%arito · 13 Sep 2026Emerging
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Retired
Their maintainers or a major evaluator stopped using them as a frontier measure. They do not count.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
- Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
- Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
- 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.
- Schedule appointments with clients.
Other job titles for this occupation (22)
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) · Enrolled Agent · Income Tax Preparer · Tax Accountant · Tax Advisor · Tax Associate · Tax Consultant · Tax Preparer · Tax Professional · Tax Specialist · Corporate Tax Preparer · Credentialed Tax Expert · Credentialed Tax Professional · Income Tax Advisor · Income Tax Consultant · Income Tax Expert · Licensed Tax Consultant · Preseason Tax Professional · State and Local Tax Associate (SALT Associate) · Tax Evaluator · Tax Expert · Tax Preparer Assistant