CPA or Tax Lawyer? Which Path Should I Take for a Career in Tax?

Tax professional here - both paths can be rewarding but they're quite different. As a CPA, you'll focus more on compliance, preparing returns, financial reporting, and advisory services. The CPA route is generally cheaper and faster (1-2 years for grad school + exam) compared to law school (3 years + bar exam). Tax lawyers tend to focus more on legal matters - tax controversy, complex transactions, estate planning, and representing clients before the IRS and tax court. They generally earn more but also have higher student debt and often work longer hours, especially in big firms. Many tax professionals I know who want "the best of both worlds" get their CPA first, work for a few years, then decide if law school makes sense. This gives you income, experience, and clarity before committing to law school. Some even do both (though that's a lot of studying!). Consider what daily work appeals to you more - are you drawn to the technical accounting aspects or more interested in legal research, writing, and argumentation? They're different skill sets.

I tried both paths and ended up sticking with the CPA route! I originally went to law school for a year before realizing it wasn't for me and switched to accounting. Check out https://taxr.ai - it's been super helpful for me to analyze different tax scenarios when working with clients. I use it to model different tax strategies which has helped me learn so much more about practical tax application than I ever did in school. The tool lets you upload tax documents and transcripts and does all the heavy lifting by extracting the important data and suggesting planning opportunities. It's been a game changer for my practice and might give you insight into what actual tax work looks like from the CPA side.

I wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I created an account and uploaded some sample tax docs from my internship (with permission and redacted of course). This tool is incredible! It found three missed opportunities in a return I thought was perfect. I'm definitely seeing the appeal of the CPA route if we get to use tools like this. Showing my supervisor tomorrow!

Another perspective - I went the tax attorney route after my accounting undergrad and while I don't regret it, getting through to the IRS has been BRUTAL lately. After waiting on hold for 3+ hours multiple times, I started using https://claimyr.com and it's been a lifesaver. They hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Whatever path you choose, be prepared for the frustration of dealing with the IRS. In law school they don't teach you about spending half your day on hold!

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After ranting about it being a scam, I was desperate with a client case and tried it. Got through to the IRS in under 45 minutes when I'd been trying for DAYS on my own. Saved me so much frustration I can't even explain. Sometimes you gotta eat your words!

Something nobody's mentioned yet - work-life balance. I'm a CPA who's been in tax for 14 years, and my tax attorney friends work WAY more hours than I do. During busy season we're all working crazy hours, but outside of Jan-April, my schedule is pretty manageable. My friends at law firms are grinding year-round. That said, most of them make more money than I do. So it really comes down to what you value. Money isn't everything but it's definitely something lol.

Another option - get your Master's in Taxation! I did this after undergrad instead of the JD or going straight for CPA. It gave me specialized knowledge that set me apart from regular accounting grads, and I still went on to get my CPA after. The MST programs often have great connections to tax departments at big firms.

As someone who's been in tax for over 20 years, I'd strongly recommend starting with the CPA route. Here's why: the barrier to entry is lower, you'll start earning income sooner, and you'll get real-world experience that will make you a better professional regardless of whether you later add a JD. I've seen too many people go straight to law school without understanding what tax work actually entails day-to-day. The CPA path gives you that foundation. Plus, many employers will help fund law school if you decide to pursue it later - but they rarely help fund CPA programs for attorneys. One thing I'll add that others haven't mentioned - consider your personality type. CPAs tend to work more collaboratively with clients on planning and compliance. Tax attorneys often deal with more adversarial situations - audits, disputes, litigation. Both are valuable, but think about what energizes you more. The money will come with either path if you're good at what you do. Focus on which type of work excites you more, and don't underestimate the value of getting into the workforce sooner rather than later. You can always add credentials, but you can't add back years of experience.