Top 12 Income Tax Preparer Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today’s tax world, the ground shifts often and fast. Employers want preparers who can navigate rules, tame messy ledgers, and move smoothly across the tools of the trade. The 12 skills below signal you’re ready to deliver—accurately, quickly, without drama when the deadline clock gets loud.

Income Tax Preparer Skills

1. QuickBooks
2. TaxAct
3. Excel
4. TurboTax
5. H&R Block
6. Lacerte
7. Drake Software
8. ProConnect
9. TaxWise
10. CCH Axcess
11. IRS e-file
12. ATX Tax

1. QuickBooks

QuickBooks is accounting software for small and mid-sized businesses. It tracks income and expenses, supports invoicing, bank feeds, payroll, and provides reports you can lean on during tax prep.

Why It's Important

It centralizes client financial data, reduces manual entry, and speeds reconciliation. Clean books mean cleaner returns, fewer amendments, and a calmer tax season.

How to Improve QuickBooks Skills

Sharper, faster, fewer errors. Do this:

1. Connect your stack: Sync QuickBooks with your tax software (for example, ProConnect or Lacerte) to cut duplicate entry and mapping mistakes.

2. Automate intake: Use tools like Dext Prepare (formerly Receipt Bank) to capture receipts and bills, pushing coded entries straight into QuickBooks.

3. Level up reporting: Build custom reports and dashboards; in QuickBooks Online Advanced or Enterprise, tailor columns, filters, and schedules to match your tax workpapers.

4. Tighten reconciliations: Lock prior periods, reconcile monthly, and use bank rules to keep categorizations consistent.

5. Stay current and certified: Keep the software updated and complete official QuickBooks training or certification to master features that actually save time.

Less sprawl, more structure. Your tax prep downstream benefits immediately.

How to Display QuickBooks Skills on Your Resume

2. TaxAct

TaxAct is tax preparation software that supports federal and state e-filing with tools for calculating liabilities and managing forms.

Why It's Important

It offers a straightforward workflow, solid diagnostics, and scalable filing for varied client needs. Good fit for solo preparers and small practices that value simplicity.

How to Improve TaxAct Skills

Make it sing under pressure:

1. Streamline navigation: Customize favorites, pin frequent forms, and use bookmarks to jump between schedules quickly.

2. Lean on diagnostics: Run error checks early and often, not just before filing, to catch mismatches and missing attachments.

3. Import data: Pull trial balances or CSVs where possible; reduce hand-keying anything that can be mapped.

4. Template smartly: Save client letters and organizer templates for recurring situations—fewer edits, fewer slips.

5. Security first: Enforce MFA, role-based access, and encrypted backups. Sensitive data stays locked down.

6. Keep learning: Follow release notes and product webinars so new capabilities don’t pass you by mid-season.

7. Go mobile when needed: Use the web interface on tablets or phones for quick checks and client updates away from your desk.

How to Display TaxAct Skills on Your Resume

3. Excel

Excel is the backbone spreadsheet for organizing, calculating, and analyzing financial data. It’s your sandbox for reconciliations, workpapers, and projections.

Why It's Important

It accelerates reviews, supports audit-ready documentation, and makes complex calculations reproducible. When in doubt, spreadsheet it.

How to Improve Excel Skills

Target the features that move needles:

1. Modern lookups: Master XLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH. Retire VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP for anything serious.

2. PivotTables + Power Pivot: Summarize big ledgers fast; add data models and relationships when things get gnarly.

3. Power Query (Get & Transform): Import, clean, and reshape messy data with repeatable steps. No more manual scrubbing.

4. Structured Tables: Use tables for dynamic ranges, filters, and cleaner formulas.

5. Data Validation: Lock down inputs—lists, dates, patterns—to prevent fat-fingered chaos.

6. Automation: Record macros, learn basic VBA, or use Office Scripts (in Excel on the web) to eliminate repetitive clicks.

7. Protection: Password-protect files and sheets, consider workbook encryption, and hide formulas where appropriate.

Build once, reuse forever. Your future self will be grateful.

How to Display Excel Skills on Your Resume

4. TurboTax

TurboTax is consumer-oriented tax prep software with guided workflows and robust calculations. Some preparers use it for light help, reviews, or advisory with DIY clients.

Why It's Important

It’s widespread, intuitive, and packed with prompts. Knowing its logic helps you troubleshoot client-prepared returns fast.

How to Improve TurboTax Skills

Work with it, not against it:

1. Pro view: Learn the forms view thoroughly so you can step outside the interview and fix edge cases quickly.

2. Collaboration: Use secure document exchange and threaded comments to clarify questions without endless emails.

3. Error checks: Run diagnostics midway, not just at the end, to keep issues from snowballing.

4. Customization: Tailor checklists and workflows for common scenarios—rental real estate, multi-state, self-employment—so you don’t reinvent steps.

5. Security: Enable multi-factor authentication and use strong permissions on any shared files.

6. Keep current: Track annual form and rule changes, then adjust your review procedures before the rush hits.

How to Display TurboTax Skills on Your Resume

5. H&R Block

H&R Block provides tax preparation services and technology for individuals and small businesses, both in-office and online.

Why It's Important

Large footprint, standardized processes, strong training programs. Experience here signals you can handle volume, follow procedures, and serve varied client profiles.

How to Improve H&R Block Skills

Make the platform and your practice tighter:

1. Adopt smarter workflows: Use standardized checklists and appointment prep to reduce back-and-forth.

2. Expand expertise: Pursue advanced credits and specialty courses (multi-state, small business, real estate, crypto, foreign reporting) so tougher returns don’t rattle you.

3. Client experience: Streamline intake, offer clear summaries, and set expectations on timing—people remember calm and clarity.

4. Data protection: Enforce MFA, secure file storage, and clear data retention policies.

5. Advisory mindset: Add off-season planning—estimated taxes, entity questions, withholding checks—to deepen client relationships.

6. Community presence: Participate in local tax education and outreach to build trust and referral flow.

How to Display H&R Block Skills on Your Resume

6. Lacerte

Lacerte is professional-grade tax software known for handling complex returns and extensive forms.

Why It's Important

Speed, breadth, and deep diagnostics. If your clients bring complexity, Lacerte keeps pace.

How to Improve Lacerte Skills

Squeeze more from the tool:

1. Stay updated: Install releases promptly so form changes and diagnostics stay accurate.

2. Training: Complete official courses and review knowledge base content—shortcuts and lesser-known features pay off.

3. Integrations: Link to QuickBooks and document management to reduce manual transfers.

4. Templates and letters: Customize client letters, organizer settings, and input defaults to shave minutes off every file.

5. Diagnostics: Use all review layers—critical and informational—to prevent rejects and amendments.

6. User community: Compare workflows and solutions with peers; adopt what saves time and ditch what doesn’t.

How to Display Lacerte Skills on Your Resume

7. Drake Software

Drake Software is a comprehensive suite for professional preparers, covering individual and business returns with streamlined workflows.

Why It's Important

Reliable e-filing, strong support, quick data entry. Great balance of capability and speed for high-volume shops.

How to Improve Drake Software Skills

Polish the edges that matter most:

1. Keep current: Apply updates as they drop; tax changes move quickly.

2. Learn deeply: Use built-in tutorials, CPE options, and practice datasets to master forms you see less often.

3. Customize: Tailor preparer settings, print sets, and letters so your deliverables look consistent every time.

4. Lean on support: When stuck, contact support early. Ten minutes saved is an hour reclaimed in April.

5. Community tips: Join user groups to learn faster ways and avoid common pitfalls.

6. Security posture: Enforce MFA, device encryption, and least-privilege access across your practice.

How to Display Drake Software Skills on Your Resume

8. ProConnect

ProConnect (Intuit) is cloud-based tax software for professionals with tight integration to QuickBooks Online.

Why It's Important

Cloud access, real-time collaboration, strong diagnostics, and smooth data import from the accounting file. Less friction, fewer surprises.

How to Improve ProConnect Skills

Dial in efficiency:

1. Learn the ecosystem: Master the QuickBooks Online to ProConnect pipeline and mapping. Garbage in, garbage out—so fix upstream data too.

2. Training and updates: Keep up with feature releases and webinars; new tools can save hours when used well.

3. Workspace tweaks: Customize the interface, form sets, and review flags to mirror how you think and work.

4. Feedback loop: Submit suggestions and track known issues; small product changes can remove big headaches.

5. Security practices: MFA, device security, and encrypted storage are non-negotiable.

How to Display ProConnect Skills on Your Resume

9. TaxWise

TaxWise is a professional tax preparation platform used widely by firms and bank product providers, with tools for quick data entry and robust e-filing.

Why It's Important

It handles a broad range of returns with efficient workflows, strong diagnostics, and reliable submission tracking.

How to Improve TaxWise Skills

Turn speed into accuracy (and back again):

1. Update consistently: Install program and form updates as they arrive to avoid last-minute surprises.

2. Train with intention: Use vendor training and CPE to go beyond basics—multi-state, K-1 flows, depreciation nuances.

3. Customize the layout: Arrange forms, inputs, and client lists to match your process; fewer clicks, fewer errors.

4. Diagnostics first: Run error checks at checkpoints and final review; address all red and yellow flags before e-file.

5. E-file discipline: Batch submissions wisely, track acknowledgments, and clear rejects immediately.

6. Protect data: Follow IRS security best practices—IP PIN awareness, phishing training, and segmented access.

How to Display TaxWise Skills on Your Resume

10. CCH Axcess

CCH Axcess is a cloud suite for tax, firm management, and workflow—built for connected, paper-light practices.

Why It's Important

Integrated tools mean fewer silos: tax prep, document management, routing, and client collaboration tied together.

How to Improve CCH Axcess Skills

Make the suite work as one:

1. Keep releases current: New features and fixes matter when filing windows are tight.

2. Dashboard your world: Customize role-based dashboards to surface what you need—today’s tasks, pending sign-offs, filing status.

3. Templates everywhere: Standardize letters, organizers, and workflow steps. Consistency reduces review noise.

4. eLearning and labs: Practice in a sandbox file to test features without risking live returns.

5. User community: Compare configurations and adopt proven workflows used by similar-sized firms.

6. Integrations: Connect time, billing, and DMS tools so data flows without exports and imports.

7. Support and feedback: Open tickets early, share reproducible steps, and track resolution; you’ll solve issues faster.

How to Display CCH Axcess Skills on Your Resume

11. IRS e-file

IRS e-file is the system for electronically transmitting tax returns to the IRS, speeding processing and refunds.

Why It's Important

Faster acknowledgments, fewer transcription errors, better tracking. Clients notice the difference.

How to Improve IRS e-file Skills

Precision plus protection:

1. Know the rules: Stay current on e-file schemas, MeF updates, and annual filing changes that affect attachments and signatures.

2. Authorized software only: Use approved software and keep EFIN/PTIN compliance airtight.

3. Security program: Enforce Written Information Security Plan (WISP), MFA, encryption, and regular access reviews. Promote IP PINs to eligible clients.

4. Client prep: Provide crystal-clear document checklists and identity verification steps to reduce rejects and holds.

5. Training and QA: Attend IRS webinars, run test submissions when available, and use pre-file diagnostics to catch rejects before they happen.

6. TIN matching and validation: Validate SSNs/EINs where appropriate to avoid common mismatches.

How to Display IRS e-file Skills on Your Resume

12. ATX Tax

ATX Tax is professional software that supports a wide range of forms with a form-centric interface.

Why It's Important

Broad coverage and customizable outputs make it useful for firms handling mixed books of individual and entity returns.

How to Improve ATX Tax Skills

Turn features into habit:

1. Certification and training: Complete vendor courses to cement fundamentals and discover underused features.

2. Practice reps: Use sample files to rehearse complex pathways—multi-state, consolidated, amended—before deadlines loom.

3. Community insights: Engage with peer forums for real-world fixes and time-savers.

4. Support resources: Reference guides, videos, and release notes should be part of your weekly rhythm in season.

5. Optimize setup: Standardize print sets, macros, and templates so deliverables are uniform.

6. Feedback to vendor: Share structured suggestions; incremental improvements compound across dozens of returns.

How to Display ATX Tax Skills on Your Resume