Tax Preparers
Official O*NET title: Tax Preparers (13-2082.00)
Also called: cpa, enrolled agent, income tax preparer, tax accountant, tax advisor
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing tax preparers work
6 of 12 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Red (lots of AI use) — 50%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to make sure correct tax form completion (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Schedule appointments with clients (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Review financial records (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required (main task) — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies”. Try the prompt for: “Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to make sure correct tax form completion”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and tax preparers
Will AI replace tax preparers?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 6 of the 12 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Red rating (lots of AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 6 of the 12 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which tax preparer tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies; furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to make sure correct tax form completion; answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
Which tax preparer tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables; use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum; interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 90% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a tax preparer start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Tax Preparers ranks #124 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #9 of 31 in Finance.
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