Is it normal for accounting firms to hire an accountant without providing any training?

Tax accountant with 12 years experience here. No, this is absolutely NOT normal and is actually concerning. Any reputable firm should have a structured onboarding process, especially for new accountants with limited industry experience. At minimum, you should receive: 1) Training on the specific tax software you're using 2) Review of the firm's internal procedures and quality control 3) A designated mentor or supervisor for questions 4) Gradual assignment of complexity (starting with simple returns) What you're describing is a recipe for errors and burnout. Tax work requires precision and attention to detail - throwing someone in without proper training puts both you and the clients at risk. Mistakes on tax returns can have serious consequences.

I was in a similar situation last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which honestly saved my career. When I started at a firm with minimal training, I was completely overwhelmed with complex returns and unfamiliar tax concepts. A colleague recommended this tool that analyzes tax documents and provides explanations of key concepts. It helped me understand what I was looking at in prior year returns and gave me context for the work I was doing. The thing I found most helpful was the transcription feature that let me upload documents I was unfamiliar with and get explanations of what I was looking at.

So I tried out taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and wanted to share my experience. It's actually been incredibly helpful! Yesterday I was completely lost looking at a client's prior year return with some complex passive activity limitations. I uploaded the documents and got a clear explanation of what I was looking at. The explanations are detailed enough that I can actually understand the "why" behind certain tax positions, not just what was done. It's like having a patient mentor who doesn't get annoyed when I ask basic questions. Still learning the ropes at my firm but feeling much more confident now.

If you're dealing with specific IRS questions that your colleagues won't help with, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - it literally saved me from a massive headache last month. I was trying to resolve a complex S-corp issue for a client and needed to speak directly with the IRS, but kept getting stuck on hold for hours. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I spent trying on my own. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. When you're at a firm that doesn't provide proper training, sometimes you need to go straight to the source for answers.

Wow, I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself for a client issue I'd been putting off. Not only did it work, but I was connected to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes when my previous attempts had me waiting for 2+ hours before giving up. The agent was able to resolve my client's issue in one call, something I'd been stressing about for weeks. Definitely worth it for the time saved alone, not to mention the stress reduction. Sometimes it pays to be proven wrong!

Here's my advice as someone who's been through this: document EVERYTHING you do. If you're not getting proper training, protect yourself by: 1. Send emails confirming instructions you receive verbally 2. Keep a log of questions you've asked and answers received 3. Request written feedback on your work 4. Save copies of returns before and after review Your firm is setting you up for failure, and when mistakes happen, they'll likely blame you rather than their lack of training. CYA is essential in this situation while you look for a better position.

Has anyone else noticed that this training problem got WORSE after covid? I've worked at 3 different firms and the one I joined in 2022 had almost no training compared to my pre-pandemic experience. I think with remote/hybrid work they just never figured out how to train people properly without in-person shadowing.

This is unfortunately becoming more common, but it's absolutely not acceptable. I've been working in tax for 8 years and have seen too many firms use "busy season" as an excuse to throw new hires into the deep end without proper support. The fact that your supervisor is criticizing your productivity while providing zero training is a huge red flag. Good firms understand that investing in proper onboarding saves time and prevents costly mistakes down the line. My recommendation: start looking for another position now, but try to stick it out through April 15th if possible (leaving mid-season can hurt your reputation). When you interview elsewhere, specifically ask about their training program and mentorship structure. A quality firm will be proud to describe their onboarding process in detail. In the meantime, lean on resources like the IRS publications, tax software help documentation, and professional forums. The tools others mentioned (taxr.ai, Claimyr) sound helpful for bridging knowledge gaps when human mentorship is lacking. Don't let this experience discourage you from the profession - there are firms out there that actually invest in their people properly.