Top 12 Tax Preparer Skills to Put on Your Resume
In the intricate world of tax preparation, the skills you spotlight on a resume can swing doors open. The right mix signals precision, speed, and sound judgment under deadlines. Below you’ll find 12 core software skills every tax preparer should know, plus practical ways to sharpen each one so your work stays accurate, compliant, and fast.
Tax Preparer Skills
- QuickBooks
- TurboTax
- Excel
- Drake Software
- ProConnect
- TaxAct
- H&R Block Software
- Lacerte
- CCH Axcess
- IRS e-file
- ATX Solution
- TaxWise
1. QuickBooks
QuickBooks is widely used bookkeeping software that tracks income, expenses, payroll, invoicing, and more—giving tax preparers clean ledgers, reconciliations, and tax-ready reports to work from.
Why It's Important
Accurate books mean fewer surprises at filing time. QuickBooks streamlines financial recordkeeping and reporting so returns can be prepared swiftly and with confidence.
How to Improve QuickBooks Skills
Build speed and accuracy with these tactics:
Use QuickBooks Online Accountant: Centralize client access, firm tools, and document exchange to reduce gaps and back-and-forth.
Connect to tax software: Import trial balances and map accounts to tax lines to cut manual entry and reduce transposition errors.
Pursue training and certification: Structured courses reveal features you might miss, like workflows, reconciliation tools, and close procedures.
Automate data capture: Bank feeds, rules, and tools like Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) or Hubdoc shrink the receipt-entry grind.
Clean as you go: Reconcile monthly, lock closed periods, and run vendor/customer reviews so year-end isn’t a scramble.
Customize tax-ready reports: Build memorized Profit & Loss by month, Balance Sheet, General Ledger, and Trial Balance with tax line mappings.
How to Display QuickBooks Skills on Your Resume

2. TurboTax
TurboTax guides users through federal and state income tax returns with step-by-step prompts, automatic calculations, and built-in diagnostics.
Why It's Important
It streamlines return prep, flags common mistakes, and helps apply deductions and credits properly—useful for straightforward individual filings and quick-turn scenarios.
How to Improve TurboTax Skills
Work smarter, reduce rework:
Stay current: Know what forms TurboTax supports and track annual tax law changes that impact credits, phaseouts, and limits.
Leverage imports: Pull in W‑2s, 1099s, and prior-year data where possible to curb manual entry and mismatch errors.
Use diagnostics fully: Resolve every warning and informational note; run a final review before e-filing.
Template your process: Build intake checklists and document requests so clients deliver what you need the first time.
Tighten security: Enable multifactor authentication, strong passwords, and a clean data retention policy.
How to Display TurboTax Skills on Your Resume

3. Excel
Excel is the tax preparer’s Swiss Army knife: reconcile data, model scenarios, audit numbers, and present findings clearly.
Why It's Important
It enables rapid analysis, clean reconciliations, and traceable workpapers—critical for accuracy and defensible files.
How to Improve Excel Skills
Target high-impact capabilities:
Modern lookup functions: Prefer XLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH over VLOOKUP for flexibility and fewer breakages.
Power Query: Import, clean, and reshape messy data from CSVs, exports, or APIs with repeatable steps.
PivotTables and Charts: Summarize large data sets quickly and visualize variances or trends for review.
Error controls: Use data validation, conditional formatting, and error checks to catch outliers and typos.
Automation: Record macros or use VBA for repetitive workpaper tasks.
Security: Apply workbook protection, sheet protection, and (where available) sensitivity labels; remove confidential data from shared files.
How to Display Excel Skills on Your Resume

4. Drake Software
Drake Software is professional tax software covering individual and business returns with robust diagnostics, organizers, and integrated planning tools.
Why It's Important
It balances speed and depth, supports a wide range of forms, and includes strong review tools, making complex returns more manageable.
How to Improve Drake Software Skills
Dial in your setup and workflow:
Training first: Work through Drake’s training resources and update notes so you know new features before crunch time.
Customize settings: Standardize preparer info, e-file defaults, print sets, and tick marks to reduce clicks.
Use the Tax Planner: Model scenarios and estimated tax to deliver advisory value, not just compliance.
Lean on diagnostics: Resolve every red and review yellow; add preparer notes for future you.
Shortcut savvy: Learn hotkeys and batch tools (e-file acknowledgments, organizers) to save time at scale.
How to Display Drake Software Skills on Your Resume

5. ProConnect
ProConnect is Intuit’s cloud tax platform for professionals, tightly connected with QuickBooks and collaboration tools.
Why It's Important
Cloud access, integrated client document exchange, and real-time updates help firms move quickly while keeping files centralized and secure.
How to Improve ProConnect Skills
Workflows that reduce friction:
Keep it current: Update frequently so forms, limits, and diagnostics are always aligned with the latest rules.
Use client portals: Collect docs with Intuit’s client link features and request lists; eliminate email chaos.
Import data smartly: Bring in QuickBooks trial balances and map accounts to tax lines to slash manual entry.
Template communications: Save common emails, engagement letters, and organizer requests for consistency and speed.
E-sign and e-file: Turn signatures and submissions around fast while maintaining strong authentication.
Review with intent: Use analytics and diagnostics to spot anomalies, then document your fixes.
How to Display ProConnect Skills on Your Resume

6. TaxAct
TaxAct provides individual and business return preparation with a clean interface and solid e-file support.
Why It's Important
For many small practices, it offers a cost-effective, reliable way to prepare and transmit returns while maintaining accuracy.
How to Improve TaxAct Skills
Make it work harder for you:
Know supported forms: Confirm coverage for the filings you handle most so you can plan edge cases early.
Use imports: Pull prior-year data and supported forms where available to reduce data entry and mistakes.
Create checklists: Standardize client intake and review steps to minimize missing schedules or attachments.
Apply review tools: Resolve all diagnostics and run a final pass before e-filing.
Harden security: Turn on multifactor authentication, restrict user access, and set retention rules for sensitive data.
How to Display TaxAct Skills on Your Resume

7. H&R Block Software
H&R Block’s professional software supports individual and business returns with built-in guidance and updated compliance.
Why It's Important
It helps maintain accuracy through guided interviews and current rules, useful for teams that need repeatable, scalable processes.
How to Improve H&R Block Software Skills
Clarity, consistency, control:
Simplify your setup: Customize the interface, defaults, print packages, and preparer profiles to match your workflow.
Stay accurate: Install updates promptly; resolve all error checks and verify state-specific nuances.
Integrate data: Import bookkeeping exports or CSVs where possible to minimize manual entry.
Custom reports: Tailor organizer or review reports to client needs and your internal quality checks.
Security posture: Enforce MFA, strong passwords, user-level permissions, and regular backups.
Keep learning: Use vendor training and knowledge libraries so new staff ramp quickly and veterans spot new features.
How to Display H&R Block Software Skills on Your Resume

8. Lacerte
Lacerte is a comprehensive tax platform for advanced individual and business filings, known for depth of forms and diagnostics.
Why It's Important
When the return gets complicated, Lacerte brings strong analytics, review tools, and integrations that keep work precise and traceable.
How to Improve Lacerte Skills
Precision through process:
Update early and often: Keep current on new forms, e-file schemas, and tax changes.
Train with intention: Use vendor courses and release notes to master Tax Analyzer, Diagnostics, and e-file workflows.
E-file mastery: Track acknowledgments, clear rejects quickly, and document fixes inside the file.
Standardize: Templates for common returns, binder checklists, and review notes reduce oversight risks.
Integrate: Import trial balances, use client portals and e-signatures, and map accounts to tax lines for speed.
How to Display Lacerte Skills on Your Resume

9. CCH Axcess
CCH Axcess is a cloud suite for tax, document management, research, and workflow—built for multi-preparer firms.
Why It's Important
Integrated tools trim handoffs, centralize data, and unlock real-time collaboration across tax, docs, and firm workflows.
How to Improve CCH Axcess Skills
Make the most of the suite:
Structured training: Complete Axcess Tax and Workflow courses; skim release notes before busy season.
Customize your workspace: Tailor dashboards, routes, and templates so the whole team follows the same path.
Automate handoffs: Use Workflow for intake, prep, review, and delivery steps; auto-create tasks from client events.
Integrate intentionally: Connect Document, research, and your accounting system to reduce copy-paste.
Tight security: Enforce least-privilege access, MFA, secure sharing, and periodic permission reviews.
How to Display CCH Axcess Skills on Your Resume

10. IRS e-file
IRS e-file is the secure electronic system for transmitting returns to the IRS, delivering quick acknowledgments and faster processing.
Why It's Important
It reduces errors, speeds refunds, and provides confirmation that the return reached the IRS—a win for clients and your records.
How to Improve IRS e-file Skills
Smooth, compliant, and secure:
Get authorized: Apply for and maintain your EFIN; keep principals current and pass suitability checks.
Use approved software: File through compliant platforms that support current schemas and state e-file rules.
Master rejects: Track common reject codes, keep a fix library, and resubmit quickly.
Safeguard taxpayer data: Follow strong password policies, enable MFA, encrypt at rest and in transit, and document an incident response plan.
Quality review: Run pre-file checks, verify identities, and confirm bank info for direct deposit.
How to Display IRS e-file Skills on Your Resume

11. ATX Solution
ATX is professional tax software offering broad federal and state form coverage, calculation power, and solid e-file tools.
Why It's Important
It supports diverse client needs while providing tools to maintain compliance and accuracy under tight deadlines.
How to Improve ATX Solution Skills
Aim for consistency and control:
Train routinely: Use product guides and webinars; review release notes before peak season.
Stay updated: Install patches and form updates as they drop to avoid avoidable rejects.
Organize data: Establish naming conventions, backups, and a clear folder structure for client files.
Plan your work: Use simple project management tools to track statuses, due dates, and acknowledgments.
Lean on e-file: Send electronically whenever supported; monitor acknowledgments daily.
Secure environments: Patch systems, run endpoint protection, and restrict access by role.
Learn from peers: Participate in practitioner groups to swap tips, common fixes, and workflow ideas.
How to Display ATX Solution Skills on Your Resume

12. TaxWise
TaxWise is a professional tax platform with strong e-file capabilities and tools for organizing and reviewing returns efficiently.
Why It's Important
It accelerates preparation, helps reduce errors, and supports a wide array of filings—reliable for busy seasons with mixed client types.
How to Improve TaxWise Skills
Polish the edges:
Track updates: Keep software current and scan change logs for form, schema, and diagnostic shifts.
Take the training: Complete online courses to surface features that cut prep time.
Template recurring work: Build organizer and review templates for common return types.
Maximize e-filing: Use batch e-file, monitor acknowledgments, and resolve rejects with documented steps.
Protect client data: Enforce MFA, manage permissions, and adopt a written security plan and retention policy.
Join the community: User groups and forums surface practical fixes and time-savers you won’t find in manuals.
How to Display TaxWise Skills on Your Resume

