Tax Preparers
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
AI Impact Summary
Tax Preparers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 45/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 90% of all analyzed occupations. Of 12 analyzed tasks, 5 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Tax Preparers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
Google Technical Writing
by Google
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
12 tasks analyzed
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.
Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns.
Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.
Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
Review financial records such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
Schedule appointments with clients.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 12% | |
| Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 12% | |
| Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 15% | |
| Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 12% | |
| Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion. | 46.1Observed | 33.4% | 8% | |
| Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures. | 35.08Observed | 63.2% | 8% | |
| Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 8% | |
| Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies. | 49.1Observed | 34.6% | 6% | |
| Review financial records such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 8% | |
| Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients. | 50Observed | 47.0% | 6% | |
| Schedule appointments with clients. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 26.3%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$50,560
per year
Mean Wage
$58,860
per year
Employment
74K
workers
Wage Range
$30,500 - $96,240
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Tax Preparers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 3 scoring runs
overall change