Harlan Lunsford wrote:

- quote -

Actually, this brings up a different issue--what is
important is that the practice you work with is going to
determine your experience, and that experience will impact
your expertise. If your clientele are primarily short form
1040 clients, you will gets lots of experience with the
issues you mention, but little or none for more advanced
issues which generally impact the returns where the clients
start looking for a CPA as opposed to a storefront operation.

(Aside: I'm not slightly EAs with the above. I recognize
the knowledge and skill involved in obtaining that license.
However, public knowledge of what an EA is still is very
low--so much of the market thinks the choice boils down to a
storefront or a CPA, with the latter being used if they feel
their situation is "too complex" for the storefront. The
issue becomes one of perception, not necessarily
reality--one of the wonders of marketing issues.)

I would go along with Mike's suggestion--presuming you want
to eventually leverage that CPA certificate into a paying
proposition <grin> , I would lean towards getting associated
with a CPA firm that works with the type of clients you'd
like to work with to build your knowledge. That would be
true even if another entity would offer you more money this
year to do simpler returns.

Of course, remember if you do that the point is to
eventually get higher compensation, not to continue to work
for lower compensation (an issue if they ask you back for
another year).

--
Ed Zollars, CPA
Phoenix, Arizona

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"Iannechavis" <iannechavis[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

BTW, the office I worked in, at the time, was the highest
revenue producer BUT the lowest RAL user. If you have a
strong view about RALs (which I do), you may want to be
somewhat selective about what office you work in.

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"Harlan Lunsford" <hlunsfordns[at]bellsouth.net> wrote:
- quote -

Most CPAs who do tax work are better qualified than other
tax preparers, but many CPAs work as auditors, controllers,
or accountants in industry or government and probably know
less about taxes than a non-CPA who does tax work for a
living.

I don't think it would damage you as a CPA if you worked one
year for HRB or Jackson Hewett. You could take their tax
course and get hired. The pay is pretty low, but it would
give you enough experience to go out on your own the next
year.

You probably learned quite a bit about taxes in order to
pass the CPA test and just need some hands-on experience.

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"Iannechavis" <iannechavis[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

I'm not a CPA, but I did start with Block and I would
recommend you try it--you have to deal with what walks in
the door, so you can get a lot of variety. When I did it,
one could almost pick the hours you wanted to work, very
flexible, except for 4/15.

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"Iannechavis" <iannechavis[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

In order to have become a CPA, you had to learn enough tax
law to be able to get you a tax preparation program and let
your friends, neighbors, and anyone else you know that you
are available to prepare their returns for them. With your
knowledge and this tax program, you CAN be successful this
and many more tax seasons!

Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

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Iannechavis wrote:

- quote -

Don't ever think that something like that will "waste" your
title. I've never worked for HRB, but IF they will hire you,
and mind you, they give first choice to their own tax school
grads, you'll get a lot of practical experience. Not a
waste atall. Most CPA's are not well versed in the real
basics of tax work (uh oh; I might get some flack on this;
but I did say "most", meaning "most" that I know.) such as
filing status exemption requirements, head of household,
etc.

So yes, go for it.

Cheer$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA in LA

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Iannechavis <iannechavis[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

You will probably need to do ~whatever works~. But, I would
try to associate with a half-way respectable CPA firm, even
if you have to do so at minimum wage. Then, move forward
from there.

MTW

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iannechavis[at]aol.com (Iannechavis) writes:

- quote -


Titles mean nothing if they represent something about which
you have little knowledge and no practice. By all means,
start with Block or, perhaps, a CPA firm, or some small
successful practice which can use your services and the
prestige of your letters to their advantage while you learn
to practice. You can even put your letters aside as long as
you don't lose sight of your professional mandates.
Usually, clients don't ask for letters from those who work
for established entities. Have a look at Circular 230:

http://www.du.edu/~kobrien/circular_230.htm

Good Luck!!=

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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I am currently waiting for the issuance of my CPA
certificate (Texas). I am planning to become a part time tax
preparer this upcoming tax season since I will be on
maternity leave then and will need the extra money. Can
anyone please make suggestions on how I can do this?

Though I'll have my CPA designation by then, I can't
describe myself as an experienced tax preparer. So I might
just be able to prepare easy to moderately complicated
returns. Is it better for me to start with companies like
H&R Block or will that put to waste my CPA title?

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