Recruit and Train Your Own Tax Preparers
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Recruit and Train Seasonal Tax Preparers Grow Your Tax Business with Qualified Tax Preparers By: Chuck McCabe, CEO www.theincometaxschool.com
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The key to growth for any business is having good people. For a tax firm, this means finding seasonal employees to service your clients during tax season. While it may seem better and easier to hire an experienced tax preparer, we've found that it is better to find people with strong customer service skills first and teach them to prepare taxes through our Tax School. This eliminates the chance of hiring someone with bad habits and allows you to start fresh with someone and train them to do prepare taxes the correct way. This is my presentation on recruiting and training your own tax preparers.
Transcript of Recruit and Train Your Own Tax Preparers
Recruit and TrainSeasonal Tax Preparers
Grow Your Tax Business with Qualified Tax PreparersBy: Chuck McCabe, CEO www.theincometaxschool.com
Personal limitations You can’t do it by yourself You need seasonal career employees Where can you find them? How can you train them? What are the best practices?
Key to Growth = Good People!
The Employment Market for Tax Preparers: Recent trends
More competition High unemployment Two household
workers Later retirement
Living longer 2nd full-time careers
Tax Preparer Regulation
What Type of People Are You Looking For?
Experience in Tax Prep.
People skills Aptitude Availability Attitude Motivation Seasonal career
NYC Repeat Factor:
Don’t Create Tax Technicians!
Who are the Best Candidates? Homemakers Early retirees Military retirees Financial services
professionals People w/
complimentary seasonal employment
Moonlighting professionals
College seniors or graduate students
Blue-collar workers
Tax Preparer Compensation
Performance-based pay Draw against commission Training pay Salary vs. hourly Incentive bonuses
Professional education commission
Office bonus pool Client retention Other?
Overdraw Tax Practice Management
Manuals – Operations and more
Where to Find Prospects:
Friends & relatives Employee referrals Friendly sales people Your clients Newspaper Help Wanted Ads Online Job Boards
Indeed, Craigslist Temporary employment agencies Outplacement services Women & senior groups The military Former IRS employees Colleges & career schools
Screening Candidates:
Pitfalls Transient workers Hiring someone else’s problem Limited availability Motivated by money
The test Other people problems
Dishonesty Competing on side Poor people skills Poor communication skills Poor image Unreliable
Hiring and Scheduling
Hiring Tax Preparers Applicant Screening Employment Application W-4, I-9
Employment Agreement Non-compete provision Non-solicitation provision Confidentiality provision
Scheduling Tax Preparers Minimize “dead time” Monitor productivity
Income Tax School
Invented by Block in 1965
Best practice adopted by: National tax firms Many independent tax
firms Classroom vs. online Free vs. tuition Licensing requirements Adjunct faculty approach
Benefits of a Tax School
Ensure ample staff of qualified seasonal preparers
Candidates pay you to become qualified
Screen candidates before hiring by observing Behavior & attitude Attendance & punctuality Personal grooming Response to authority Communication skills Tax course grades
Benefits of a Tax School (con’t)
Develop a rapport that continues in the workplace
More knowledgeable tax preparers
Provide in-house CE Advanced tax training Small business tax training Tax law updates
Tax Preparer Training
Continuing Education Tax law updates Advanced courses Small Business courses
Pre-Work Training Policies & Procedures Customer Service
On-the-Job Training Buddy System
Secret Shoppers
Additional Employee Training
Pre-work training Tax software Client service Policies &
procedures On the job training
Checking tax returns
Buddy system Retraining
Ongoing Training
Tax season meetings Communication
Newsletters Email Teleconferences
Personal observation Secret shopper Feedback: errors &
complaints
Running the School:
Class schedules Times and dates Teaching techniques
Tuition and fees Inquiries and follow-up Graduation certificates CE credit EA preparation
About The Income Tax School
What Tax Courses are Available?
Basic Course (Part I) Intermediate Course (Part II) Comprehensive Course (Part I & II) Advanced Individual Courses Level I
& II Small Business Courses Level I & II Advanced Seminars IRS Exam I and II Courses Beginner Spanish Courses available
Teach in a Classroomor Let Us Train for You Online
ITS Credentials
Approved by IRS for CE for EAs CTEC for California Oregon State Board for
Tax Practitioners NASBA for CPAs Qualified Sponsor for CFP
What is Included in a Kit?
License Operator’s manual Toll-free support Kit materials
Student & instructor manuals Tax forms for assignments IRS Pub 17 on CD
Tax updates at year-end Certificate of Completion Additional materials available:
Power Point Presentation CD Answer key CDs Marketing materials: brochures,
posters, banners, inquiry & follow-up cards
Other Considerations
Licensing requirements Alternatives to a
licensed school Pricing Let us train for you online
Revenue-sharing or discounted pricing
Chartered Tax Professional
Certificate Program (CTP®)
www.TheIncomeTaxSchool.com
1-800-984-1040
Other Considerations:
Licensing requirementsAlternatives to a licensed school
PricingLet us train for you online
Revenue-sharing or discounted pricingChartered Tax Professional
Certificate Program (CTP®)
Summary:
Systematic methods Qualified, trained people Best practices
End of Presentation
Thank You!
Contact Information
Chuck McCabe, CEO 1.800.984.1040 [email protected] www.theincometaxschool.com @TaxSchool
