Looking for online tax preparer courses with certificates for side job - best website recommendations?

Former tax instructor here. If you're serious about becoming a tax preparer, I'd recommend focusing on the IRS Annual Filing Season Program or working toward becoming an Enrolled Agent. For IRS recognition, check out the IRS-approved continuing education providers listed on their website. The Annual Filing Season Program gives you a Record of Completion that clients will recognize. For a more comprehensive credential, the Enrolled Agent designation is highly respected - you'd need to pass the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE). Some solid options to consider: The National Association of Tax Professionals offers good courses, TaxSlayer Pro has a reasonable education program, and H&R Block's tax prep courses are decent for beginners though a bit commercial. For EA exam prep specifically, Surgent and Gleim have strong reputations. Remember that depending on your state, you might need additional certification or licensing beyond what these courses provide, so check your local requirements too!

Last year I was in your exact situation looking for a side gig during tax season. After tons of research and several false starts, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed my approach to learning tax preparation. Their program combines practical training with real-world scenarios that prepare you for actual client situations, not just theoretical knowledge. What I found particularly helpful was their document analysis training - they taught me how to review different tax documents and spot common issues that clients might miss. The certificate you earn is recognized by several tax preparation firms, and I was able to get work after completing their program. They also have a community of tax preparers you can network with, which helped me land my first few clients.

Just wanted to follow up - I took the plunge and signed up for taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here! I'm about halfway through their program and it's honestly better than I expected. The way they teach document analysis is super practical - they show you real tax documents (with personal info removed) and walk through how to spot issues and translate them into tax form entries. They also have weekly virtual office hours where you can ask questions about confusing tax situations, which has been really helpful. I'm feeling much more confident about taking on clients for next tax season. Definitely recommend checking them out if you're serious about tax prep as a side gig!

I tried for MONTHS to get through to the IRS to get my PTIN sorted out when I was starting as a tax preparer last year. Constant busy signals, disconnects, and hours on hold. Almost gave up until someone recommended Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They have this service where they navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when they have an agent on the line. Check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Seriously saved me so much frustration. Instead of wasting days trying to get through, I got my PTIN issues resolved in one call. If you're getting into tax prep, bookmark this for when you inevitably need to contact the IRS about something. Trust me, you'll need it at some point, whether it's for your own PTIN or helping clients with their issues.

I need to eat my words from my earlier comment. After struggling for two weeks to get through to the IRS about my own tax situation (unrelated to being a preparer), I broke down and tried Claimyr yesterday. Got a call back in about 40 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. Resolved my issue in a single call. If you're getting into tax preparation, dealing with the IRS is unfortunately part of the job sometimes. Having a tool like this in your arsenal is actually really valuable. I'm still shocked it worked so well after my terrible experiences trying to call them directly. Just wanted to share since my skepticism was completely wrong.

Don't forget that besides the training, you'll need to get your PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) from the IRS before you can legally prepare returns for compensation. It's pretty easy to get one on the IRS website, costs around $35.95 for new applications I think. Also, consider what tax software you'll use. Professional versions of tax software can be expensive, and that's an additional investment beyond just the training. I started with Drake Tax Software because they had a good balance of features and cost for a newbie.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned - consider specializing in a particular niche rather than trying to be a generalist. When I started doing tax prep on the side, I focused specifically on gig workers and rideshare drivers because there were so many in my area. By specializing, your marketing becomes easier, you can charge premium rates for your expertise, and you don't have to learn EVERYTHING about tax law at once. You can gradually expand your knowledge base as you go.