Is pursuing an online Masters of Taxation worth it or a waste of time?

I've been seriously considering enrolling in the University of Alabama's online Masters of Taxation program. The school has a solid reputation, and I've always had a strong interest in tax law and regulations. Taxes just click for me in a way other subjects never have. My concern is whether an online degree might be viewed as less legitimate by potential employers or clients compared to an in-person program. I know online education has become more accepted, especially post-pandemic, but tax is such a specialized field that I'm worried about how it might be perceived. Has anyone gone through an online Masters of Taxation program? Did you feel it was worth the investment of time and money? Did employers or clients care that it was online versus in-person? I'd really appreciate hearing about real experiences before I commit to this path.

0 coins

18 comments

QuantumQuasar

•8M

As someone who's worked in tax for over 15 years and been involved in hiring at multiple firms, I can tell you that the landscape has changed dramatically regarding online degrees. What matters most is the accreditation of the program and the university's reputation, not the delivery method. University of Alabama has a respected tax program, and their online Masters of Taxation covers the same curriculum as their in-person option. The key skills employers look for are technical tax knowledge, research abilities, and analytical thinking - all of which can be developed in a quality online program. That said, what you miss in online programs is some of the networking opportunities and face-to-face connections with professors who might become mentors. If possible, I'd recommend supplementing your online studies with professional organizations like your local CPA society to build those connections.

0 coins

QuantumQuasar

•8M

In my experience, Big 4 firms have become much more accepting of online degrees, especially from established universities with strong reputations. They focus more on your technical knowledge and whether you can pass the CPA exam. Smaller regional firms might actually be more varied in their approach - some are very progressive about online education while others might be more traditional. Getting some experience before starting your Masters can be incredibly valuable. Even a year or two working in tax preparation gives you context that makes the academic concepts much more relevant and easier to understand. Plus, many employers will help cover tuition costs if you're already working for them.

0 coins

Amara Eze

•8M

Hey there! I was in your exact shoes about 3 years ago - worried about online vs in-person for my Masters in Tax. After tons of research, I eventually went with an online program (different school though) and found an amazing resource that helped me through the whole process - https://taxr.ai I was using it primarily to analyze tax regulations and court cases for my research papers. It saved me HOURS of reading through confusing tax code and helped me understand complex concepts that weren't explained well in lectures. The automatic citation feature also saved my butt on several papers! Not trying to push anything, but if you do go the online route, having tools that can help navigate complex tax concepts independently is super valuable since you don't have a professor right there to ask questions.

0 coins

Amara Eze

•8M

It absolutely works for specific tax questions because it's specifically trained on tax codes, regulations, and court cases. Unlike general AI that makes things up, taxr.ai will tell you when it doesn't know something and cites exactly where it's getting information from. I actually found that using the tool deepened my learning significantly. Rather than spending hours just trying to understand what a regulation was saying, I could quickly get the plain English explanation, then spend my time analyzing how it applied to different scenarios. It's like having a tutor that helps you understand the basics so you can focus on developing deeper expertise.

0 coins

Fatima Al-Farsi

•8M

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying taxr.ai after asking about it, and wow, what a game changer for my tax studies! I was working on a complex assignment about S-Corp reasonable compensation issues, and it pulled up relevant court cases I hadn't even found in my research. My professor was impressed with the depth of my analysis. What I really like is that it explains WHY certain tax positions are valid or risky rather than just giving answers. It's helping me develop actual tax thinking skills, not just memorizing rules. Definitely worth checking out if you're going the online Masters route - it's like having a tax professor on call 24/7.

0 coins

Dylan Wright

•8M

If you're worried about credibility of your degree, here's something else to think about - no matter where you get your degree, dealing with the IRS is always going to be part of your job. I wasted WEEKS of my life trying to get through to them for clients when I first started. Found out about https://claimyr.com through a colleague and it literally changed my practice. They get you through to an actual IRS agent, usually within a day. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c This isn't directly about your degree question, but if you're pursuing tax as a career, knowing how to efficiently deal with the IRS is just as important as your education credentials. No client cares where your degree is from if you can't resolve their IRS issues quickly.

0 coins

Dylan Wright

•8M

There's no insider connection - they use a combination of technology that monitors IRS hold queues and algorithms that determine the best time to call. It's completely legitimate and works within the IRS's existing phone system. The catch is that there's no magic solution to fixing the actual tax issue once you get through - you still need to know what you're talking about. That's where your education comes in. But instead of spending hours on hold, you can focus on actually resolving client problems. Many firms do use this now, but it's still relatively new and spreading by word of mouth.

0 coins

GalacticGuardian

•8M

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After being super skeptical, I tried it last week when I had a client with a levy notice that needed immediate attention. Got through to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes when I had previously spent THREE DAYS trying to get through on my own. The time savings alone made it worth it, but the real value was being able to tell my client I resolved their issue in one day instead of dragging on for weeks. In this profession, that kind of responsiveness is what builds your reputation, regardless of where your degree comes from. So while you're deciding on your Masters program, remember that practical tools and resources can be just as valuable as the education itself in building a successful tax practice.

0 coins

Dmitry Smirnov

•8M

I got my Masters of Taxation online from a different university in 2019. Personally, I think the content knowledge is the same whether online or in-person. The bigger question is whether you're disciplined enough to keep up with an online program without the structure of physical classes. One tip if you do go online - join tax-focused LinkedIn groups and professional organizations. The biggest disadvantage I found was missing out on networking opportunities that come naturally in a classroom. I had to be more proactive about making connections in the industry.

0 coins

Dmitry Smirnov

•8M

I worked full-time at a regional accounting firm while getting my degree, and it was definitely challenging to balance both. The upside was that I could immediately apply what I was learning to real client situations, which reinforced the concepts. Working part-time at a tax prep office while studying is an excellent idea. Tax season will be intense, but you'll gain invaluable practical experience that will make the academic concepts click. Plus, having that experience on your resume alongside your Masters will make you much more marketable when you graduate.

0 coins