How did or why did you start being a tax pro?

[powerage]

For me, long story short, I spent 16 years in the grocery biz, quit in 1997 as a manger, got suckered in to Equinox...good products though... In 2002 got a great job 10 minutes from my house, Mon-Fri 8-4:30, benefits, painting, a cake job... 7 months in I injured my sciatic nerve very badly while pressure washing a building. It still hurts to this day. There goes my job...

2005, I saw an add for tax school, called the number, they set me up for the course, and here I am. 5th season...I have a hate/love relationship with taxes.

And I always say this will be my last season. It has nothing to do with the clients, it has to do with the tax code. The more I learn, the more pissed I get. Heck, it is not that easy explaining to someone why they do not qualify HOH. Our tax code needs to be reformed, right from the top, period. Congress needs to listen to the tax pros voice.

Does anyone have a voice? In Florida, I can contact Rep. Bill Young, but I don't know what he will do.

Sorry for the rant. Oh yea, weed for med use needs to be legal.

[RitaB]

Eight years teaching high school math

I taught Algebra II and Geometry for eight years. Honestly, I left teaching mainly because of one Algebra I teacher. All the kids leaving her class made high grades and knew NOTHING. (I am NOT exagerating, and I know kids forget. They knew NOTHING.) So, I was having to teach Algebra II to kids that didn't know Algebra I. Frustrating as all get out.

TODAY, what is frustrating is trying to explain to adults with college degrees that I need to know the property tax you paid IN 2009. I don't care the "tax year" on the notice. You may have paid nothing IN 2009 or more than one year IN 2009...

I HAVE to stop explaining stuff to people. The teacher in me just won't go away.

[DaveO]

Almost 3 years after closing a business down I got an IRS notice over unpaid 940 taxes they accessed about $500 in tax, penalty and interest. I knew quite well I had paid all the taxes and had the cancelled checks to prove it. It took almost 2 years of phone calls and letters during which the bill had tripled before I finally won and got a closing letter.

This started me on the path to learn as much about the IRS and taxes as I could by reading books and newletters geared towards saving taxes as a business owner. It was another 15 years before I left the publishing business and started practicing as a tax pro.

[AZ-Tax]

How I got started in the Tax Pro business....

I started my Financial Services career as a Series 7 securities rep in the 80’s back in Lincoln NE. Couple years later I acquired my life/health Ins license. Was taught the greatest marketing was to align myself up with CPA’s for prospects except I usually ran into a brick wall. Then the CPA’s starting acquiring their securities and insurance licenses so I looked into tax preparation by attending an HRB school when I relocated to AZ. I actually enjoyed the HRB class and went to work for TaxOne sitting in a grocery store. TaxOne allowed me to discuss securities and insurance to my tax clients. TaxOne was acquired by HRB 1 yr after I joined them so I went on my own. I guess I can relate to RitaB a bit. I need to do a better job of controlling the sales person in me. For what I don’t like about this business is those taxpayers that look negatively at tax preparers when in turn we are their allies. I am big advocate of tax planning yet I have very few clients that take advantage of it. Recently I met a young kid who just got his Series 7 securities license. When he found out I was a tax preparer, you should have seen the dollar signs in his eyes. Yes that brings back memories when I met my first CPA after obtaining my Series 7.

[taxxcpa]

Becoming a tax pro

Although I had a degree in and accounting and was a CPA, my career choice was not to do tax work. I spent many years as an auditor, and when early retirement was offered from my corporate job, I took it and began doing similar work for a consulting firm. The travel was just too much for me, so I began doing tax and accounting work to get away from all the travel.

My practice is small which suits me since I don't depend on it for a living. I prefer doing tax and accounting work in a home office working at hours of my own choice than sitting around watching TV all day.

[spencer]

I was downsized

out of a job. Took classes from a franchise we all know. Worked there fifteen years and finally gor fed up with corporate. Moved to small well respected independent. The fact that they would have me was a boost to my ego.

[spencer]

I too have a teaching background,

I taught Algebra II and Geometry for eight years. Honestly, I left teaching mainly because of one Algebra I teacher. All the kids leaving her class made high grades and knew NOTHING. (I am NOT exagerating, and I know kids forget. They knew NOTHING.) So, I was having to teach Algebra II to kids that didn't know Algebra I. Frustrating as all get out.

TODAY, what is frustrating is trying to explain to adults with college degrees that I need to know the property tax you paid IN 2009. I don't care the "tax year" on the notice. You may have paid nothing IN 2009 or more than one year IN 2009...

I HAVE to stop explaining stuff to people. The teacher in me just won't go away.

And yes, the teacher in me won't go away either. My clients love me because I explain their return in terms they understand.

[RitaB]

Yeah, and

And yes, the teacher in me won't go away either. My clients love me because I explain their return in terms they understand.

I give out gold stars, too.

And, demerits for the slackers.

[Mo Sheets]

It was along the same lines as cleaning out horse stalls...

After doing tax prep as a "side" job for many years, I decided several years ago to finally sit for the CPA exam. Once that hurdle was cleared, it was just a matter of time before I decided to look into having an office in my home and doing tax work during tax season and some payroll/consulting/bookkeeping work outside of tax season.

My first job, at age 10, was cleaning horse stalls. I feel it is very similar to what I am doing today......taking things from one pile and putting it in another, in a much nicer form and fashion. During the off season, I can be found out in the barn or on the horse trails.

I love this job! O.K......yes, I've been working seven days a week for the last four weeks and really need a break....that's why I'm here now! Happy Tax Season to all!

Mo

[geekgirldany]

I started out working for the man that had prepared my parent's tax return for years and years. My mom kept at my dad to ask him if he needed help. Sure enough he did. Started out with 3 hours a day 4 days a week. Worked there while going to college and it turned full time. My first "real" job. I don't count working at Belk's shoe department for two weeks.

Let me add that I NEVER thought I would get into taxes. I always thought bank teller or secretary.

Worked for him around 6 years. He was looking for me to buy the business... but after research I found out it was better for me to open my own business. He was good enough to give me his business clients and recommend businesses to me. That really helped me the first few years.

I started in 2000 and still going strong. I feel really blessed to have such a good business. As many of you know I got my EA in 2008. I am so proud of that. Being in business for myself has taught me alot. How to deal with people/talk with people and built up my self confidence over the years.

Maybe more information but that is my story

[Gretel]

I became a certified accountant about 30 years ago. I was living in Germany then. This certification is similar to the CPA here plus lots of tax knowledge. In Germany I always worked for bigger companies, then became a mom, then went on spiritual journey, got divorced and immigrated to the US in 1996.

I started my working career cleaning in a nursing home, then became a CNA and applied to all German companies in the area. At the same time I went to tax school with H&R Block but never worked for them. Finally got a job in the accounting department, quit after two years and worked for a CPA firm, doing bookkeeping and some Corporation tax returns. There I realized that a lot of clients are not getting the best service.

Then I moved to a small town in Montana where a tax business was for sale. At that point I had forgotten that I wanted to have my own biz in Germany already but never dared to do it. I still didn't dare but just had to jump into it and was scared to death. Now I had the opportunity to live up to my own expectations. That was in 2001.

The first years were very rough. In 2005 I became a certified QB advisor and in 2006 an EA. I am very glad now that I have my own business. Funny thing is that when I first saw an US tax return in 1990 I said: Am I glad that I never will have to do this.

[CarolToppCPA]

Engineer turned CPA

I have a degree in Engineering Management (mix of engineering and business classes), worked 10 years as a cost analyst for the US Navy. I quit after my second daughter was born. Too much travel. I took a few accounting classes in college and knew I was good at it. I took the HRB tax class and worked one season for them to see if I enjoyed doing tax returns. I studied accounting classes by correspondence from Indiana U while being a stay-at-home mom for 5 years. Passed the CPA exam in 1999 (just before the 150 hour requirement in 2000).

I started homeschooling my daughters and loved it, so I never wanted to work for a CPA firm. I started a home-based accounting practice doing tax returns, small biz consults and now have grown to love working with small nonprofits. It's part time income, but I really love what I do and my clients appreciate me.

Now my oldest daughter has graduated from homeschool high school and is studying accounting in college (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!). In two more years my younger daughter will be off to college too and I'll expand my accounting practice then.

I try and tell young people (women especially) that accounting/business/tax prep is a great career. You can work part time, FT, at home, for a large company, in every city in the USA, etc. Instead my daughter gets weird looks when she tells people she is studying accounting. One person told her, " Honey, you're too cute to be a bean counter!" Someday she'll be a well-paid, cute bean counter!

[powerage]

great replies!

Thanks a lot! Y'all are the best!

Also, I think this forum has the most intelligence than any other on the internet. Y'all almost make me fee stupid!

Cheers!!

[RitaB]

Yes, this is a fantastic group

I agree this is a great bunch of folks. Lots of brain power AND congeniality going on here. I appreciate the helpfulness and friendship!

[Jonmat37]

Where has the time gone?

22 years ago, figured I take an HRB training course to perhaps get a better refund. Did that and never looked back. Great part time/temporary job (while working at a full time job)with lots of mandatory training and ethical management practices. Like to help the client-friends I've made over the years (some have been with me for 10+ years) by providing knowledgeable tax preparation and advice. But it's tiring to keep up with the constant updates, stimulus mazes and marketing schemes. Well, bite-the-bullet and forge on. I'm waiting for the IRS certification run-the-gauntlet next.