Top 12 Tax Professional Skills to Put on Your Resume
In the competitive field of taxation, showcasing a robust set of professional skills on your resume can significantly enhance your employability and career prospects. Highlighting specific tax-related abilities not only demonstrates your expertise and commitment to the profession but also sets you apart in the eyes of potential employers, making you a more attractive candidate for the job.
Tax Professional Skills
1. QuickBooks
QuickBooks is an accounting software primarily used by small to medium-sized businesses and tax professionals for managing income and expenses, tracking financial transactions, and preparing for tax filings efficiently.
Why It's Important
QuickBooks is important for a Tax Professional because it simplifies financial tracking and reporting, ensuring accurate and efficient preparation of tax returns and compliance with tax regulations.
How to Improve QuickBooks Skills
To improve QuickBooks for a Tax Professional, consider the following concise strategies:
Utilize Integrations: Leverage QuickBooks integrations with tax software and planning tools to streamline data flow and boost accuracy.
Customize Reports: Customize and generate specific tax reports such as Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports tailored to tax preparation needs, ensuring relevant financial data is easily accessible.
Stay Updated: Keep QuickBooks on the latest release to access current tax tables, forms, and features while reducing manual calculations.
Implement Proper Account Setup: Set up your chart of accounts with clean tax categories from day one. Accurate coding eliminates headaches at filing time.
ProAdvisor Program: Join the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program for training, support, and resources that sharpen your skills and expand your service offerings.
By focusing on these key areas, Tax Professionals can significantly improve their efficiency and effectiveness when using QuickBooks.
How to Display QuickBooks Skills on Your Resume
2. TaxAct
TaxAct is a tax preparation software designed for tax professionals, offering tools for preparing, filing, and managing client tax returns efficiently.
Why It's Important
TaxAct is important for tax professionals as it provides comprehensive, reliable software for preparing and filing accurate tax returns efficiently, ensuring compliance with tax laws and maximizing client benefits.
How to Improve TaxAct Skills
Improving TaxAct for a tax professional involves focusing on enhanced usability, detailed reporting, and advanced integration. Concise strategies:
Enhance Usability: Streamline the interface, enable customizable dashboards, and add shortcuts for common workflows.
Detailed Reporting: Expand report customization and add predictive analytics to sharpen tax planning and advisory insights.
Advanced Integration: Strengthen connections with accounting tools (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero) and document systems for a smoother, faster workflow.
Continuous Education and Support: Provide ongoing resources on tax law changes and best practices, including case-based learning for complex returns.
Enhanced Security Features: Emphasize multi-factor authentication, encryption, and role-based access to protect sensitive client data.
Customizable Client Portals: Offer branded portals for document exchange, e-signatures, payments, and direct messaging.
By focusing on these areas, TaxAct can significantly improve the experience and efficiency for tax professionals, ultimately benefiting their clients.
How to Display TaxAct Skills on Your Resume
3. Excel
Excel is a spreadsheet software developed by Microsoft, used for organizing, analyzing, and storing data, essential for tax professionals for calculations, financial analysis, and data management.
Why It's Important
Excel is crucial for Tax Professionals as it enables efficient data organization, complex calculations, and analysis, facilitating accurate tax preparation, compliance, and strategic planning.
How to Improve Excel Skills
Improving Excel skills for a Tax Professional means leaning into analysis, automation, and crisp reporting:
Master PivotTables: Summarize, analyze, and slice data quickly for trial balances, GL detail, and reconciliation work.
Learn Advanced Formulas: Nail functions like INDEX/MATCH, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, FILTER, and LET to build sturdy models and schedules.
Use Data Validation: Control inputs to protect templates from bad data and reduce rework.
Explore Power Query: Automate data import and cleanup from multiple sources; perfect for recurring client work.
Automate with Macros and VBA: Script repetitive steps—rollovers, formatting, data reshaping—to save hours during peak season.
Better Reporting with Charts: Build clear visuals for client briefings and internal review. Keep it simple and readable.
Conditional Formatting: Highlight variances, outliers, and exceptions to zero in on issues fast.
Secure Your Files: Protect sheets and workbooks, manage permissions, and safeguard sensitive tax data.
Improving proficiency in these areas can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness as a Tax Professional.
How to Display Excel Skills on Your Resume
4. TurboTax
TurboTax is a tax preparation software that helps individuals and businesses accurately file their tax returns by guiding users through a step-by-step process, ensuring compliance with tax laws and maximizing deductions and credits.
Why It's Important
TurboTax is important for tax professionals because it streamlines the tax preparation process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in filing clients' tax returns.
How to Improve TurboTax Skills
Improving TurboTax for Tax Professionals hinges on usability, accuracy, and connectivity:
Enhanced Customization: Tailor workflows, questionnaires, and templates to match client profiles and engagement types.
Advanced Error Checking: Expand diagnostics and opportunity-finding based on current-year laws and phaseouts.
Seamless Integration: Tighten data sharing with accounting platforms and banks for reliable imports.
Cloud-Based Collaboration: Secure portals and real-time review make remote client work painless.
Continuing Education: Ongoing training on tax law changes and feature updates keeps quality high.
Enhanced Data Security: Strong encryption, MFA, and granular permissions protect sensitive returns and workpapers.
By focusing on these areas, TurboTax can become an even more invaluable tool for tax professionals, ensuring they can provide the best service to their clients.
How to Display TurboTax Skills on Your Resume
5. SAP
SAP is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform that integrates finance, operations, and more. For a Tax Professional, SAP supports efficient tax determination, compliance, and reporting by automating calculations, standardizing data, and surfacing insights for planning.
Why It's Important
SAP is crucial for a Tax Professional because it provides integrated financial tools that streamline indirect and direct tax processes, support global compliance, and improve reporting accuracy—saving time while lowering risk.
How to Improve SAP Skills
Build depth in modules that matter, then cement it with practice:
Strengthen the Foundation: Focus on FI (Financial Accounting) and CO (Controlling) to understand tax implications across postings and close.
Specialize in Tax Configuration: Work with tax codes, VAT/GST, sales and withholding tax. Learn condition techniques and jurisdiction mapping.
Stay Current: Track both tax law updates and SAP feature changes through official learning resources and release notes.
Get Hands-On: Configure scenarios in a sandbox—rate changes, exemptions, cross-border flows, reverse charge—then test end-to-end.
Engage the Community: Discuss edge cases, performance tweaks, and reporting approaches with peers and experts.
Validate with Certification: Consider financial module certifications to signal competence and unlock advanced content.
Consistent learning plus real project experience drives mastery.
How to Display SAP Skills on Your Resume
6. Oracle
Oracle offers a suite of business applications and cloud solutions, including ERP, EPM, and analytics. Tax professionals rely on these tools for tax reporting, provisioning, data management, and streamlined compliance.
Why It's Important
Oracle is important for a Tax Professional because it delivers robust financial and tax reporting capabilities, powerful data governance, and automation that improves accuracy, scalability, and audit readiness.
How to Improve Oracle Skills
Sharpen your proficiency by targeting the right tools and practicing often:
Focused Learning: Prioritize ERP Financials and Tax Reporting modules; learn their data flows and close cycles.
Tax Reporting Cloud: Build fluency in tax provisioning, effective tax rate analysis, and automation features.
Hands-On Practice: Use trial or sandbox environments to model consolidations, mappings, and end-to-end tax processes.
Join User Groups: Share tips, templates, and solutions with Oracle community peers.
Track Updates: Follow release notes and product roadmaps so your processes reflect current capabilities.
These steps make you faster, more accurate, and more adaptable during busy seasons.
How to Display Oracle Skills on Your Resume
7. Lacerte
Lacerte is a comprehensive tax preparation platform for professionals, built to handle complex individual and business returns with deep form coverage and diagnostics.
Why It's Important
Lacerte matters because it delivers extensive forms, strong diagnostics, and efficient e-filing, helping pros file complex returns quickly and accurately.
How to Improve Lacerte Skills
Get more from Lacerte by leaning into its tools and staying current:
Stay Updated: Install the latest releases for new forms, fixes, and tax law changes; review product news regularly.
Customize Your View: Tailor input screens, shortcuts, and print settings to your workflow.
Use Lacerte Tool Hub: Run diagnostics and routine maintenance to keep things stable.
Maximize e-Filing: Follow e-file guidelines and monitor acknowledgments to reduce rejects.
Training: Take product-specific courses and webinars; build speed with practice sets.
Document Management: Integrate a secure DMS to centralize source docs and client communications.
Tax Planner: Employ built-in planning tools to model scenarios and estimated payments.
Community: Exchange tips and troubleshoot in practitioner forums.
These habits cut prep time and elevate client service.
How to Display Lacerte Skills on Your Resume
8. ProSystem fx
ProSystem fx is an integrated suite of tax and accounting solutions from Wolters Kluwer, built for tax professionals and CPA firms to handle preparation, planning, compliance, and workflow.
Why It's Important
ProSystem fx is crucial for a Tax Professional because it streamlines complex return preparation and compliance, improving accuracy and saving time across the engagement.
How to Improve ProSystem fx Skills
Level up your setup and habits for smoother work:
Keep Current: Update to the latest version to access new features, performance improvements, and form changes.
Training Resources: Use vendor webinars, tutorials, and user guides to deepen product knowledge.
Customize Workspace: Configure views, templates, and workflows to match your firm’s process.
Integrate Tools: Connect with your DMS, e-signature, and portal solutions to reduce manual steps.
Peer Community: Trade tips and fixes with other users through forums and user groups.
Practice and exploration turn features into everyday time-savers.
How to Display ProSystem fx Skills on Your Resume
9. H&R Block
H&R Block is a major tax services provider offering in-person and online preparation, filing, and related financial services for individuals and small businesses.
Why It's Important
H&R Block is important for a tax professional because it provides tools, training, and standardized processes that help deliver accurate returns and consistent client experiences at scale.
How to Improve H&R Block Skills
Focus on service quality, technology, and ongoing education:
Client Experience: Communicate clearly, personalize advice, and act on feedback to refine processes.
Technology: Adopt efficient e-filing workflows, secure portals, and data import tools to reduce manual effort.
Expand Knowledge: Keep pace with law changes through continuing education; broaden services (amended returns, estimates, planning).
Digital Presence: Use social channels and thoughtful content to reach clients and build credibility.
Feedback Loops: Collect and review client input to spot training needs and process gaps.
These moves build trust, speed, and accuracy—core to retention.
How to Display H&R Block Skills on Your Resume
10. Drake Software
Drake Software is a professional tax preparation platform for preparing and e-filing individual and business returns, with tools for client management and workflow.
Why It's Important
Drake Software is important for tax professionals because it offers comprehensive, efficient preparation and filing, helping teams deliver accurate returns while keeping up with changing laws.
How to Improve Drake Software Skills
Make Drake work harder for you by tightening your setup and habits:
- Stay Updated: Install updates to capture new features and tax changes.
- Use Support Resources: Leverage webinars, tutorials, and the knowledge base to solve issues quickly.
- Customize Settings: Configure preferences, print packs, and alerts to fit your workflow.
- E-Training Center: Take structured courses to speed up data entry and review.
- Network and Feedback: Join user groups to share tips and relay product improvements.
- Security: Apply strong passwords, MFA, device encryption, and access controls to safeguard client data.
These steps lift proficiency and consistency across engagements.
How to Display Drake Software Skills on Your Resume
11. IRS e-file
IRS e-file is the electronic filing system for submitting tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), allowing tax professionals to send clients' returns online securely and efficiently.
Why It's Important
IRS e-file is important for a Tax Professional because it speeds submission, reduces errors, and supports faster refunds—improving efficiency and client satisfaction.
How to Improve IRS e-file Skills
Refine process, security, and accuracy:
Stay Updated: Monitor the IRS e-file provider guidance for rule changes, deadlines, and schema updates.
Use Authorized Software: Work with approved e-file solutions to ensure compatibility and compliance.
Tighten Security: Follow Tax Security 101 practices—MFA, patching, secure portals, and data encryption.
Boost Accuracy: Use checklists and IRS tools for due diligence; validate EFIN, PTIN, and acknowledgement tracking.
Ongoing Education: Complete the Annual Filing Season Program or equivalent CE to stay current.
Leverage e-Services: Register for e-Services to access transcripts, TIN matching, and secure communications.
These habits cut rejects and smooth the filing season.
How to Display IRS e-file Skills on Your Resume
12. Xero
Xero is a cloud accounting platform for small and midsize businesses with invoicing, bank feeds, and reporting that make tax prep and compliance smoother for practitioners.
Why It's Important
Xero is important for a Tax Professional because it streamlines financial data management, automates common tasks, and improves accuracy and compliance, enabling efficient preparation and advisory work.
How to Improve Xero Skills
Dial in connections, reporting, and knowledge:
Integrations: Connect Xero to leading tax apps and practice tools to reduce manual entry and reconcile faster.
Custom Reports: Build tailored P&L, balance sheet, and tax-ready schedules; save report packs for recurring clients.
Keep Tax Rates Current: Review tax rates and thresholds regularly and confirm local rules before filing.
Training: Use Xero training resources to learn advanced reconciliation, bank rules, and reporting tips.
Advisor Network: Join the advisor directory to connect with peers and potential clients or find help when needed.
These moves sharpen accuracy and shave hours off monthly close and prep.
How to Display Xero Skills on Your Resume
