How Do I Become a Tax Accountant?

---

Becoming a CPA is a lucrative career that only comes with hard work, determination, and the proper skills and aptitudes. There are special skills a CPA must have in order to be a successful accountant. Students who wish to enter this career must have a love for numbers, be detail oriented, have a high degree of computer skills, be trustworthy, and have high organizational skills. Keep these in mind when choosing a Tax Accountant career.

Different Types of CPA Jobs

A student who is planning on becoming a tax accountant has different choices within the field to train for. These areas include the following:

•Internal Auditing
•Forensic Accounting
•Managerial Accounting
•Information Technology
•Environmental Accounting
•Tax Accounting

All of these accounting careers come under the umbrella of public accounting or business accounting.

Do I need a College Degree?

Most all tax accountants hold a business or an accounting degree. Regulations differ from state to state. The higher the training, the better your chances are of getting hired at a high-paying job. Most tax accounting jobs require about 30 hours of training after the typical four years college degree. Some jobs require not only the above, but also a minimum of after-college training in accounting and business. For example, some states require a minimum of 30 hours of accounting and 25 hours of business. The more hours and requirements that are fulfilled in training will equip the student in passing a rigorous CPA exam. Some students who are ambitious and anxious to start a lucrative tax accounting career go on to obtain their Master’s Degree.

The CPA Exam

A student who graduates with a tax accounting degree can claim to be an accountant; however, an accountant cannot claim to be a CPA without taking the rigorous CPA state exam and passing it. Clients who are relying on an accountant to complete and file their taxes will most likely be looking for an accountant that can claim to be a CPA. In order to become a CPA, an accountant undergoes a truly difficult, challenging CPA Exam. The CPA Exam consists of four parts:

1. Audit and Attestation (AUD)
2. Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
3. Regulation (REG)
4. Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)

Exam preparation and review will be necessary to pass the CPA Accountant test. The collective passing rate during 2012 was less than 50% for first-time test takers. Research to find resources geared towards helping students pass the CPA exam should be utilized to increase the possibility of passing the exam. Exams are usually scheduled for certain times of the year, so preparing for each section of the exam should be taken into consideration. A student should check their local jurisdiction to find out the dates the exams will be offered. Special classes can be found that are geared towards helping students prepare for the exam. Students who plan on becoming a tax accountant should research when and where they want to take the exam.

Several universities offer CPA training, so a student must do his or her homework when choosing the best college that offers tax accountant degrees. Patience, tenacity, and commitment are needed to pursue a career as a tax accountant. If a person is willing to go through all the training and testing, being a tax accountant can be a lucrative career and is a much needed profession.