17 Income Tax Preparer Interview Questions and Answers

If you’re good with numbers and have a head for tax laws, you may be considering a career as an income tax preparer. As an income tax preparer, you’ll help individuals and businesses file their taxes each year. This job requires excellent customer service skills, as well as knowledge of tax laws and filing procedures.

If you’re interested in becoming an income tax preparer, you’ll need to pass an IRS exam and obtain a preparer tax identification number. Once you’ve met these requirements, you can start looking for a job. Many tax preparers work for accounting firms, but you can also find work in banks, law firms, and financial planning firms.

Before you can start preparing taxes, you may need to go through a job interview. During the interview, the interviewer will ask you a range of income tax preparer interview questions to gauge your knowledge of tax laws and filing procedures. They may also ask questions about your customer service skills and experience. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample income tax preparer interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the tax laws in this state and the federal government?

Interviewers ask this question to determine your level of expertise in the tax laws. They want to know that you can complete accurate and timely income tax returns for their clients. In your answer, explain how you stay up-to-date on changes to tax laws. You may also mention any continuing education courses you’ve taken or certifications you hold.

Example: “I am very familiar with the tax laws in my state and federal government. I have been preparing taxes for five years now, so I have seen many changes to these laws. To ensure I’m always up-to-date, I take a few online courses each year. These courses help me learn about new tax laws before they go into effect.”

What are the most important skills for an income tax preparer to have?

This question helps the interviewer determine if you have the skills and qualifications to be successful in this role. Use your answer to highlight your communication, math and customer service skills.

Example: “The most important skill for an income tax preparer is strong math skills. You need to be able to calculate taxes accurately and make sure clients receive accurate refunds or owe money at the end of the year. Another important skill is communication. I find that it’s helpful to explain complicated financial information in a way that makes sense to my clients so they understand what they’re paying for. Finally, customer service skills are essential because you work with many different people throughout the year.”

How would you describe the relationship between an income tax preparer and their clients?

This question can help interviewers understand your perspective on the role of an income tax preparer. It also helps them determine whether you have a customer-focused mindset and how you would interact with clients. In your answer, try to emphasize that you value client relationships and enjoy helping people.

Example: “I think it’s important for an income tax preparer to be empathetic toward their clients. I always make sure to listen carefully to my clients’ concerns and questions so that I can address them effectively. I believe that by being compassionate and helpful, I can build strong relationships with my clients and provide them with quality service.”

What is your experience with working with clients who have complex tax situations?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with clients who have unique tax situations. Use your answer to highlight any skills you have that help you work with these types of clients and provide examples of how you helped them in the past.

Example: “I’ve worked with many clients who had complex tax situations, including those who were self-employed or owned multiple businesses. I always make sure to thoroughly explain all parts of their taxes so they understand what is happening. In my last role, I worked with a client who was self-employed as an interior designer. She didn’t know she could deduct some of her expenses for supplies and equipment, but after explaining it to her, she understood and filed her taxes correctly.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to provide guidance to a client who was unsure about how to complete their tax return.

Interviewers ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills and how you can help clients complete their tax returns. Use examples from previous jobs where you helped a client understand the process of completing their taxes or provided them with additional resources to help them file their taxes on their own.

Example: “At my last job, I had a client who was unsure about which deductions they could claim on their income tax return. I explained the different types of deductions that were available to them and asked if there were any specific questions they had about the process. They said they weren’t sure what expenses qualified as business expenses versus personal expenses. I told them that many business expenses are deductible, including travel expenses, office supplies and equipment purchases. We went through each expense together and determined whether it was eligible for deduction.”

If a client came to you with a question about their tax liability, how would you go about answering it?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with clients. Your answer should include a specific example of how you would help a client understand their tax liability.

Example: “If a client came to me with a question about their tax liability, I would first make sure they understood the information on their tax return. Then, I would explain any additional information that may be relevant to their situation. For instance, if they had recently purchased a home or started a new job, I would explain what impact those events have on their tax liability.”

What would you do if you noticed a mistake on a client’s previous year’s tax return while preparing their current year’s return?

This question can help the interviewer assess your attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Your answer should show that you are willing to take responsibility for your actions, apologize when necessary and learn from mistakes.

Example: “If I noticed a mistake on a client’s previous year’s tax return while preparing their current year’s return, I would immediately inform them of the error so they could correct it before filing their taxes. If the client had already filed their taxes, I would contact the IRS or state revenue department to report the mistake and ask how we can fix it. I would also ensure that my client understands what steps they need to take to resolve the issue.”

How well do you understand the differences between filing jointly and filing separately?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the tax code. It’s important for income tax preparers to understand all aspects of filing taxes, including how it impacts their clients and what they need to do to file correctly. In your answer, try to explain the differences between filing jointly and separately in as much detail as possible.

Example: “Filing jointly means that both spouses’ incomes are combined into one return. This lowers the overall amount of taxes owed because you can claim deductions from both parties. Filing separately means each spouse files their own return. Each person must pay taxes on their individual income without being able to claim any deductions from their partner.”

Do you have experience working with tax preparation software?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with the software they use at their company. If you don’t have experience using the same tax preparation software, explain what other tax preparation software you’re familiar with and how it compares to the one used by the company.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different tax preparation software programs in my career, but I’m most comfortable working with TaxWise because of its user-friendly interface and helpful customer service team. The program is easy to navigate and has a lot of useful features that help me complete my work efficiently.”

When preparing a client’s tax return, do you start with their income or their deductions and exemptions?

This question is a great way to determine how much experience you have as an income tax preparer. It also shows the interviewer that you understand which information should be entered first when preparing a client’s return. When answering this question, make sure to mention your reasoning for starting with either deductions and exemptions or income.

Example: “I start by entering my clients’ income because it’s the most important piece of information on their tax return. Income determines whether they are eligible for certain deductions and credits, so I want to ensure that I enter all of their income correctly before moving on to other parts of their return.”

We want to attract more small business clients. What would you do to market our firm to this demographic?

This question is an opportunity to show your creativity and problem-solving skills. You can use examples from previous experience or describe a hypothetical situation where you would market to small businesses.

Example: “I have worked with many small business owners in the past, so I know how important it is for them to find a tax preparer that they trust. In my last role, I noticed that we were missing out on some of these clients because our marketing was geared toward individuals rather than small businesses. So, I created a new campaign that focused on small business tax preparation services. We saw a significant increase in small business clientele after implementing this strategy.”

Describe your process for double-checking your work to ensure your clients’ tax returns are accurate.

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your attention to detail and how you ensure the accuracy of your work. To answer, think back to a time when you double-checked your work for an income tax return. Explain what steps you took to make sure that you didn’t miss any errors or omissions in your client’s tax returns.

Example: “I always start by checking my math on each form I fill out. Then, I compare my calculations with those provided by the IRS website. Finally, I check all of my work against my client’s records to make sure I haven’t missed anything. This process helps me feel confident that I have prepared accurate tax returns for my clients every year.”

What makes you an ideal candidate to be an income tax preparer?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and experience necessary for this role. You can answer this question by highlighting your relevant education, certifications or work experience.

Example: “I am a certified tax preparer with three years of experience in this field. I also hold my bachelor’s degree in accounting from State University, where I graduated summa cum laude. In addition, I have extensive knowledge of tax laws and regulations because I took several courses on these topics while earning my degree. Finally, I enjoy working as part of a team and helping others meet their financial goals.”

Which of your previous jobs or experiences make you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your background and how it relates to the job you’re applying for. They want to know what skills, knowledge or experience you gained from previous jobs that make you a good fit for their company. When answering this question, think of which aspects of your past roles relate most closely to the role you’re interviewing for.

Example: “My last position as an accountant at a small business has given me valuable insight into income tax preparation. I learned how to use accounting software to track financial information and perform basic calculations. This skill set makes me well-suited to this position because I understand the importance of accuracy when preparing taxes.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of a successful tax return?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of tax preparation and the importance you place on accuracy. Your answer should include a specific example from your experience that shows how important accuracy is in this role.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of a successful tax return is accuracy. In my last position, I had a client who was expecting a large refund but instead received a bill for thousands of dollars because of an error I made. It was very stressful for me as well as the client, so now I am even more careful when entering data into the system. I triple-check all numbers and ensure that everything is accurate before submitting.”

How often do you think tax laws should be updated?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you are aware of the current tax laws and how often they change. They want to know that you can keep up with changes in the industry and apply them to your work as needed. In your answer, explain that you would like to stay informed about any updates so you can help clients understand their taxes more thoroughly.

Example: “I think it’s important for tax preparers to be aware of the latest tax laws because we need to make sure our clients are getting accurate information. I subscribe to a few newsletters that provide tips on filing taxes and ways to save money. I also try to read articles online or watch videos about new tax laws when I have time.”

There is a new law that impacts your client’s tax liability. How would you approach them about it?

This question is an opportunity to show your communication skills and ability to stay up-to-date on tax laws. You can answer this question by describing a specific situation where you had to inform a client about a new law that impacted their taxes.

Example: “I once worked with a client who was self-employed, so they were responsible for paying both the employee and employer portion of their income tax. One year, there was a change in the law that required them to pay more than what they originally calculated. I called my client to let them know about the change, and we discussed how it would impact their business. They decided to adjust their budget to accommodate the additional tax liability.”