A tax professional’s responsibilities are determined his job description. A tax preparer’s job may differ from that of a tax advisor or agent, for example. In general, a tax professional’s responsibilities include preparing tax returns and other tax-related documents, answering tax-related questions, and submitting forms and payments on behalf of their employers or clients. A tax professional may also be in charge of record-keeping, communicating with tax agencies, and even representing employers or clients in court.
Filing tax returns and related documents is one of the most well-known jobs a tax professional can do. A tax professional will frequently use documents provided an employer or client to determine a taxpayer’s income and tax liability for a given tax year. He can then calculate how much the taxpayer owes the IRS or how much money the taxpayer is due in the form of a refund using this information.
Tax preparers may also be responsible for maintaining financial records for clients or employers. Throughout the year, a person with this title can record income and debits and complete required tax documents. A person with this title may also be responsible for submitting tax payments on behalf of his clients or employer. A tax professional can also devise strategies and offer advice to help a taxpayer manage his or her finances more effectively, as well as find legal ways to ensure that the taxpayer pays the least amount of tax possible.
In some cases, a tax professional acts as a representative for his clients or employers, and in this capacity, he may communicate with taxing authorities on behalf of the taxpayer. A tax professional may also help a taxpayer understand his rights, assist the taxpayer in gathering the documentation he needs, and attend audit sessions with the taxpayer as his representative if the taxpayer is the subject of an audit.
A person with this title is sometimes also licensed to practice law. In this case, he may offer a variety of legal services to his clients or employer. He may answer tax-related questions, represent taxpayers in audits and hearings, and provide advice on a variety of tax issues. A tax lawyer may also represent taxing authorities and provide legal advice.