Tax Accountants

Certification or Licensing

Tax accountants that file tax reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission must be CPAs (certified public accountants). Other accountants get certified voluntarily to secure better jobs and advance their careers. Accountants must be certified in the state in which they practice accounting. To apply for the Uniform CPA Examination (which is administered by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants), candidates need about 2,000 working hours verified by a licensed CPA and must meet other requirements. In 2024, the AICPA launched a revised CPA examination. Candidates must complete three core sections: Auditing and Attestation, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Taxation and Regulation. Then they select one discipline from the following categories: Business Analysis and Reporting, Information Systems and Controls, and Tax Compliance and Planning. The AICPA says that "new content has also been added throughout the exam to test on relevant topics of emerging technology and financial planning." Visit https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/learn-what-it-takes-to-become-a-cpa to learn more about the examination.

Tax accountants may also receive the enrolled agent credential from the Internal Revenue Service, which empowers them to represent taxpayers of all types before the IRS. To receive the EA designation, accountants must pass a three-part test. Visit https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/enrolled-agents/enrolled-agent-information for more information.

Additionally, some professionals in this field earn one or more of the follow certification credentials from the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation: accredited business accountant/advisor, accredited tax preparer, and accredited tax advisor. Visit https://acatcredentials.org to learn more.