A Recession-Proof Career: Learn Tax Preparation with Practical, Real-World Training

Becoming a certified tax preparer is not only a smart personal and career move, it can also produce consistent and lucrative earnings, from home or office. And the demand for qualified people is high, especially as the relationship with CRA becomes increasingly digital. For these reasons, earning the Certified Tax Preparer Certificate from Knowledge Bureau is also a smart move. Best of all, you can start online now and use your skills to help yourself, your friends and others in the community. Here’s how:  

Step 1. Take the Income Tax Fundamentals Certificate Course. This 20-hour online program teaches you how to prepare personal tax returns using professional software, supported by dozens of real-life case studies and step-by-step instructions to build your confidence. You’ll earn the Income Tax Fundamentals Certificate if you stop there. . .but why not carry on to pro status?

Step 2. Earn the Certified Tax Preparer Certificate. Enhance your knowledge by taking four virtual online workshops (3 - 4 hours each) with dynamic professional instructors who with their “feet on the street” experience will bring the tax filing rules you have learned online to life!    

Who is the Ideal Participant? Designed for flexibility, this program is fully online and self-paced, making it ideal for new entrants to the tax, accounting or financial services industries.  It is a great career entry option for students in commerce or business administration training, anyone wishing to work seasonally, or start a small business from home, young mothers or those providing caregiving, and especially employers looking for flexible workplace training for their seasonal or part time staff, or professionals in the financial services or other industries who are wishing to refresh their skills.

How Much Can I Earn? The average hourly rate for tax preparers in Canada averages just over $21 per hour but can be as high as $60 per hour.  And these jobs are available year round as many taxpayers face CRA scrutiny after the tax season ends, or file late, with multiple years of returns to complete. The tax season generally begins officially for the current tax year in the last week of February and the normal tax filing deadline is April 30 for most people, but for self-employed proprietors, the deadline is June 15. 

Is There a Good Future in Tax Preparation? Absolutely! In fact, some would say the future is outstanding. There are many reasons for this:

• Growing Complexity in Tax Filing Rules: Filing a tax return is the most important financial document of the year for millions of individuals who count on refundable tax credits to supplement their income, most people have trouble navigating the complicated, digital filing process and their ongoing relationship with the Canada Revenue Agency overall.   That’s the key reason why, despite the government’s intention to introduce “automatic tax filing” to nil income and low income earners, professional tax preparers will continue to be in high demand.
• Older, High-Income Filers: The baby boomers and GenX are now hitting their senior years and with that comes more complex tax filing situations as tax-efficient retirement income planning is an important aspect of wealth preservation. There are more people in this scenario and these high-income earners with significant asset accumulations need both tax preparation and tax planning services. This “grey tsunami” has boosted revenues in the tax preparation industry over the past several years.
• Younger Entrepreneurship: SMEs and the gig economy continues to grow as a viable work option for people of all ages in Canada. This drives the need for specialized tax services as well.
• Continued Industry Shortage: There is a shortage of qualified tax professionals as older professionals in the industry begin to retire.

Key Benefit: This is also a recession-proof industry. It is an essential financial service that is in high demand regardless the economic conditions in the marketplace.

What’s In the Program? As mentioned above, there are two parts to the program. The 20-Hour Income Tax Fundamentals Course covers these great topics:

• Understanding Canada’s Digital Tax System
• What Income is Taxable
• Claiming Refundable Tax Credits and Social Benefits
• Claiming Non-Refundable Tax Credits
• Claiming Deductions
• Reporting Income from Self-Employment
• Reporting Capital Gains
• Rental Income
• Practice Management Thesis – Using Your Tax Software

The 16-Hour Income Tax Fundamentals Workshops. These four recorded training sessions are focused on tax filing for individuals and families, capital gains, real estate, and small business tax preparation—bringing total instruction to 36 hours, leading to the Income Tax Preparer Certificate.

You’ll Get Hooked on Taxes! Best of all, this is a practical course that features lots of true-to-life case study scenarios using professional tax software like TaxCycle, Profile and DT Max.  These tax topics are reinforced with what we call a Practice Management Thesis – that’s a thorough review of what you have learned before you take your final test for certification – this process will help you make sure you’re ready with your new skills to confidently complete returns in real-world scenarios.

Bottom Line: This is an investment in yourself, your family and your community in which the results are immediate and practical: the ability to prepare tax returns accurately and confidently, while building a strong foundation for further specialization in this high-demand field of service.

Register now at: learn.knowledgebureau.com/taxfundamentals