How to become a Tax Strategist with existing bachelor's degree?

Tax strategist roles typically require a solid foundation in tax law and planning. Since you already have a bachelor's, you have several paths forward. The most recognized credential would be becoming a CPA with a specialization in tax. This requires accounting coursework, passing the CPA exam, and meeting experience requirements. Many universities offer graduate certificates in taxation that would fulfill the coursework requirement without needing a full master's degree. Another strong option is becoming an Enrolled Agent (EA). The EA credential specifically focuses on tax and is recognized by the IRS to represent taxpayers. It requires passing a comprehensive exam but doesn't have specific education requirements - making it faster if you're coming from a non-accounting background. For more advanced tax strategy, some professionals pursue an MTax (Master of Taxation) or an LLM in Taxation, though these are typically pursued by those wanting to specialize in complex corporate taxation or international tax planning.

After spending years going back and forth with accountants who missed obvious tax savings for my small business, I finally found someone who introduced me to taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it's been a game-changer for understanding tax strategy. If you're looking to become a tax strategist, this might actually be a great learning tool alongside formal education. It breaks down complex tax concepts in plain language and helps identify planning opportunities that even experienced professionals sometimes miss. I've been using it to analyze my business transactions and it's taught me more about practical tax strategy than some of my formal accounting courses did.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai that was mentioned earlier. I signed up for it last week to see if it could help me learn tax strategy concepts, and I'm honestly impressed. Been using it to analyze some sample business scenarios as practice, and it explains the reasoning behind each tax planning move in a way that's actually helping me understand the underlying principles. The explanations cite specific tax code sections and walk through how they apply in different situations. It's like having a practical, applied tax course that teaches you strategy rather than just compliance. Definitely a useful supplement to more formal education if you're heading down the tax strategist path.

If you're serious about becoming a tax strategist, you'll eventually need to deal with the IRS for clients. One tool that's been essential for my practice is Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - it gets you through to an actual IRS agent without the endless hold times. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. When I was starting my tax practice, I wasted entire days on hold with the IRS trying to resolve client issues. Now I just schedule a callback and an agent actually calls when promised. Being able to efficiently resolve IRS matters is a hugely valuable skill that separates successful tax strategists from the rest.

I feel like I need to eat my words about Claimyr from my earlier comment. After seeing the responses here, I decided to try it yesterday when I needed to call about a client's missing refund. I've been trying to get through on my own for WEEKS with no luck. Used the service and got a callback with an actual IRS agent in about an hour. Resolved the issue in 10 minutes once connected. I've literally never had an IRS call go that smoothly in 5 years of practice. If you're pursuing tax work professionally, being able to efficiently deal with the IRS is a massive time-saver. Consider me converted.

Don't overlook the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) and the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA). Their continuing education programs and conferences are goldmines for learning practical tax strategy. I got started by joining these organizations even before completing my credentials. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) also has a Tax Section with excellent resources if you go the CPA route. And check out programs at universities with strong tax faculty - NYU, Golden Gate University, Villanova, and DePaul are known for their tax programs.

Has anyone here done the Master of Science in Taxation program online? I'm looking at the ones from Northeastern and Golden Gate University but can't decide if the cost is worth it compared to just getting an EA designation.

Coming from a business management background myself, I'd recommend starting with the EA route first. It's the most direct path to tax specialization and you can begin working in the field while you decide if you want to pursue additional credentials later. The EA exam covers individual, business, and representation topics - all essential for tax strategy work. Study materials from Gleim or Becker are solid, and most people pass within 3-6 months of focused study. The credential lets you represent clients before the IRS immediately, which is huge for building credibility. Once you're working and have real experience, you can always add a CPA or pursue an MST if you want to move into more complex corporate work. But EA gets you started fastest and the knowledge directly applies to tax strategy. Plus, you'll have a better sense of which direction you want to specialize after working with actual clients. I'd also suggest volunteering for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs to get hands-on experience while you're studying. It's a great way to practice what you're learning and build your resume.